AN ANALYSIS OF THE “CINDERELLA” FAIRY TALE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CULTURE OF POVERTY: A CRITICAL EVALUATION FROM A SOCIAL POLICY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the mechanisms of the cultural reproduction of poverty by analyzing the narrative of the classic fairy tale *Cinderella* within the framework of the culture of poverty approach. The culture of poverty approach argues that poverty is not merely a matter of economic deprivation; rather, it is reproduced across generations through individuals’ values, attitudes, and behavioral patterns. In this context, fairy tales are regarded as important tools for transmitting social norms and ideological structures. In this study, the Cinderella fairy tale is examined through the themes of passivity, fatalism, dependence on an external savior, and social mobility. The findings reveal that the fairy tale presents a narrative that glorifies external intervention over individual effort and renders structural inequalities invisible. This situation creates an ideological foundation that could contribute to the legitimization of aid-based approaches over rights-based approaches in the realm of social policy.