The little girl in me will never cease to exist, so last weekend my friend and I decided to catch the Smurfs movie. As usual, something came up so our plans were canceled. She later suggested we check out Disney’s latest version of Beauty & the Beast. My mind was still on the blue creatures I adored from way back when, but I agreed to go because girlfriend fun was long overdue. We went through the usual movie ritual—Taco Bell and sneaking in candy from CVS because the theater stuff is too expensive. But when I tell you my eyes were glued to the screen as soon as the live-action fairytale began — I have not enjoyed a film to this degree in so long and it’s because the movie embodied a subject that is near and dear to my heart—father and daughter bonds.
So we all know the story of Beauty & the Beast as far as Belle and the Beast’s love affair is concerned. But the background of how Belle became the woman she is is a result of being raised by her father, Maurice, after her mother died from malaria. The result of his single-parenting is a smart, kind-spirited, and self-assured woman who isn’t scared of anything! Here are some points from the movie that support why girls need their fathers, or at least a male role model.
- Belle will not conform to the status quo. In Belle’s 18-century village of France, women were supposed to be seen and not heard. Books were for men only and a woman’s role was in the house playing mommy and wife. So as an avid reader who was brilliant in assisting her father with his inventions, being labeled a weirdo didn’t bother Belle. She was confident in who her father had helped her become and refused to settle for a mundane life.
- Maurice understands that parenting doesn’t stop at 18. I have always said that my sister and I are my daddy’s responsibility until we get married and he knows it, too! Now don’t get it twisted, we both live in our own houses and pay our own bills, but if we need him he comes through to cut the grass, play Mr. Chauffeur, and fix broken stuff. Now, if I’m dating someone, I let the guy who’s vying for my affection do these things. This gives my dad a break and shows me if he can be taken seriously as a spouse. Too many men think parenting stops when their daughters reach 18 or when the child support payments come to an end. Some dads go on early retirement when their daughters become parents. No way, sir! You need to be in this for the long haul because your counsel and encouragement is still important.
- Maurice is critical of who shows romantic interest in his daughter. Gaston and his playboy, brutish ways did not stand a chance on Maurice’s watch! He wasn’t about to hand his daughter off to just anybody because he knew the type of man she deserved. Because of her upbringing, Belle was not checking for Gaston’s antics either! Yes, Gaston was fine as all get out and had influence in the community, but he had no substance or heart whatsoever. A marriage can’t survive off that. Many times, I have seen families coerce their daughters into marrying someone just because it’s a good look financially or socially. In the words of Funky Dineva “What kind of new-fangled ish is that?”
- Belle and Maurice respect each other as much as they love each other. Maurice knows that Belle is capable of thinking for herself and ultimately choosing her own destiny. There are some fathers who think their job is to control their adult child rather than guide them. There needs to be a level of respect allowing the child to come into her own because daddy won’t be around forever. Nothing is worse than an able-bodied, mentally capable adult who cannot function on his or her own.
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