It is extremely interesting to consider fairy tales in the modern climate of political correctness. It is very easy to read fairy tales with an eye on gender stereotyping, however, the point this article makes about equipping children with a different way of looking at things is a very good one.
A fairy story doesn’t need to be treated as received wisdom which goes unquestioned. There are a lot of characters – not just the ‘princess’ or the ‘beauty’ and there are a lot of opportunities in these diverse and quite gritty tales, to be used in modern and imaginative ways.
Perhaps instead of banning them, or rewriting them, they can be presented as they are with the support of an adult who can help to direct the narrative into one where questions are asked and assumptions challenged – which should possibly be the aim of all reading.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.