Research Critical Analysis

Kahyaam Rahim Chaudhary

Prof Voisard, Shearer

FIQWs Fairy Tales and Composition

Nov 5, 2023

               “The Cinderella Effect and the harsh Realities of child abuse”

 The Cinderella Effect is named after the Cinderella story due to the similarity of the abuse Cinderella faced and children face in the real-world. As of 2021 the cases of abuse are at an all-time high, with 588,229 being reported. In this Essay I will be discussing the abuse suffered by Cinderella in fairy tales and how it mimics the reality of the Cinderella Effect.

Cinderella was never physically abused, which connects to children whose parents abuse them emotionally or mentally every day, usually in small amounts to prevent themselves from getting reported. Throughout the story Cinderella was abused repeatedly but also in moderation. Her stepfamily never crossed a line – instead of hitting her they would force to do the work of a maid, while treating her inhumanely – Cinderella’s stepmother said to her “what’s this terrible and useless thing doing in our room, off with you into the kitchen. Whoever wants bread must first earn it. She can be our maid” (Brother’s Grimm). In an article by Evelyn Hidalgo, she mentions that “Cinderella goes from being a loved child, to being a young person abused physically (extreme work), psychologically (treated as inferior), and emotionally (feeling isolated and unloved)”. Though Cinderella wasn’t physically abused, the extreme work with psychological and emotional damage had a physical toll on her. In the article Evelyn further talks about the different kinds of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, mental, financial and cultural/identity), and how in most of the Cinderella stories, Cinderella is a victim to financial abuse. This is connected to the abuse children face in reality at the hands of their stepparents.

In an article by Kristina Block, a criminal justice journalist, she mentions that compared with biological parents, stepparents are more likely to kill their child. Also, cases where children are majorly injured are reported, while minor injuries are not reported. Going back to my point this just gives an idea of the abuse Cinderella faced and how considering the time period the story takes place, there is no rumor of her mistreatment by her stepfamily. This goes hand in hand with how in reality some parents use different tactics to abuse their child so that they themselves face no consequences for their actions. Another example is how in “The Little Match Girl” she was abused by her father (in her case, she was beaten), but the point to be noted is how she was moderately beaten by her father so that she can still go outside and make money. This shows an example where the victims who have minor injuries are actually more severe than they seem. This is, because of the fact that there is a specific intention behind it and in most cases it’s to make them their slaves, it’s similarities like this that have named many cases of abuse as the” Cinderella Effect”.

Cinderella was mistreated by her stepfamily, which connects to children who face abuse. While being forced to do extreme work Cinderella was also harassed, which was mostly done by her stepsisters. “The stepsisters took away her cloths and dressed her in an old gray smock. “You look good in that!”They, said while mocking her” (Brothers Grimm). She was constantly taunted everyday by her stepfamily in attempts to diminish herself worth, which ended up working to the point that she was hesitant to wear the beautiful dress given to her by the Fairy Godmother. Children in the real-world face similar situations where they are mistreated, in an article by Daly Martin, an Evolutionary Psychologist, he mentions that “the estimated abuse faced by a child with a birth parent plus a stepparent is seven-folds higher than those with two birth parents”, which connects with the Cinderella story of how she herself had a birth parent and a stepparent. The difference visible is the fact that in Cinderella’s case she had her stepmother along with stepsister’s harassing her compared to the real-world where it’s mostly the parents who have a hand in the abuse. This comparison just gives an idea of the severity of the abuse Cinderella herself faced and how she still remained innocent throughout all of that. The personality and positive character of Cinderella shown in the story ends up serving as an inspiration to the victims of abuse. This is another reason as to why the phenomenon “Cinderella Effect” is called what is it today.

Cinderella’s story serves as an inspiration to children who are victims of abuse in the real-world. The story of Cinderella has had a huge effect on the lives of children that are victims of abuse. It works as a beacon of hope for them that one day they too will break free and live happily ever after. The part of Cinderella’s story that inspires the children the most is the ending when Cinderella rides off with the prince: “The stepmother and the two haughty sisters were horrified and became pale, but the prince led Cinderella away” (Brother’s Grimm). In an article, by Destiny Hall, she talks about how instead of shielding the children from the fairy tales, people should acknowledge “Cinderella” as a story of an abused woman who found love against all odds. Further adding onto her point, she discusses that “She (Cinderella) was an abuse survivor who refused to let her abuse define her, which is a good lesson to teach children. Cinderella got out of her abusive home and thrived”.

  In an article by Bruno Bettelheim, a psychologist scholar, he talks about how children tend to put themselves in Cinderella’s situation or think that they are Cinderella, and that one day their prince/princess will come and take them away. He supports this claim by giving evidence of a young girl who wasn’t a victim of abuse, but she became convinced she was Cinderella after reading the story which led her to think that her family is jealous and abuses her even when they did no such thing. This just gives an idea of the effect the story has had on children, how the story serves as an inspiration for, the young girl who believed that one day her prince would come and save her.  If “Cinderella” could have such a major effect on a child who wasn’t abused, imagine the impact this story has on a child who was. 

To conclude, the abuse suffered by Cinderella in fairy tales and how it mimics the reality of the Cinderella Effect, gives an idea of what the “Cinderella effect” is. “Cinderella” shows how the Cinderella Effect connects with cases where children are being mistreated and abused mentally, and physically, telling the severity of the issue which is affecting many of the younger generation. Fairytales can become reality, sometimes that reality can be harsh. For children suffering through the abuse, the “Cinderella Effect is all too real and all too harsh. 

Works cited: 

Anderson Christian, “The little match girl” Accessed Nov 2, 2023, AndersenHC_2010_TheLittleMatchSeller_FairyTalesOfHansChris (1).pdf

Bettelheim Bruno,“Cinderella” Accessed Nov 5, 2023, Bettelheim_Cinderella.pdf   

Block, Kristina, and Jacob Kaplan. “Testing the Cinderella Effect: Measuring Victim Injury in Child Abuse Cases.” Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 82, Sept. 2022, p. N.PAG. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2022.101987

Daly, Martin. “‘Cinderella Effects’ in Lethal Child Abuse Are Genuine and Large: A Comment on Nobes et Al. (2019).” Journal of Experimental Psychology. General, vol. 151, no. 11, Nov. 2022, pp. 2968–76. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.1037/xge0001230

Grimm Brothers,“Cinderella” Accessed Nov 1, 2023,  Grimm_21Cinderella.pdf

Hidalgo Evelyn. “Cinderella-The story of abuse, but with a happy ending”. Medium, 17 Dec 2020 https://e-alvahidalgo.medium.com/cinderella-the-story-of-abuse-but-with-a-happy-ending-3251ddb96255

Hall Destiny, “Cinderella’s story isn’t superficial; it’s an inspiration to victims of abuse”. The Whit Online, 12 November 2019 https://www.ipl.org/essay/Abuse-In-Disneys-Cinderella-PCUCCCAJTZV