The Evolution of Disney Princesses

In her article Feminist Approaches to Popular Culture: Giving Patriarchy its Due, Lana F. Rakow discusses the feminist approach to popular culture, and how it has evolved over the years. One of the questions Rakow analyses is “What kinds of images are present and what do those images reveal about women’s position in culture?” (Rakow 203). When I think about women and their roles in popular culture, specifically movies, I think of Disney. With more than ten princess movies, Disney movies draw crowds of all ages, but they are specifically aimed at young girls. The view of women and their roles in society can be seen through the evolution of women in Disney movies.

The very first Disney movie to be released was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1938. This story is about a wicked queen who wants Snow White murdered because she is “the fairest of them all”. To escape the wicked queen, Snow White hides in a cottage with seven dwarfs. The dwarfs agree to let her stay with them as long as she cooks, cleans, and does other household chores for them. Eventually Snow White eats a poison apple, and the only way she can be saved is by a kiss from prince charming

Snow White is an example of what was expected from women in that time period. Women were expected to stay at home to cook, clean, and look pretty. In the article, Rakow defined this as the feminine mystique, “the fulfillment of femininity through women’s roles as house wives as women’s highest value and only commitment” (Rakow 203). Other Disney Princess such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Little Mermaid also portray similar themes of beauty and the need to be rescued by a male figure.

Fast forward to 1998 when Disney’s Mulan was released. This story is about a woman who pretends to be a man so she can go to war in her father’s place. Mulan challenges the common female role seen in past Disney movies. This is especially emphasized because the story takes place in a traditional Chinese culture. Although there is a male “prince like” figure, romance is a miniscule part of the plot. Rather, Mulan promotes bravery, sacrifice, and the value of family.

In her article, Rakow states, “Popular culture images are for the most part men’s images of women” (Rokow 203). The definition of a Disney princess started out as a women who cooks, cleans, and is dependent on a man, and morphed into a women who took fate into her own hands to save all of China. This obvious role change is in agreement with Rakow’s statement about the male view of women. In 1938 when Snow White was released, women had only gained the right to vote a few decades earlier. Therefore, men still viewed themselves as superior. However in 1998 when Mulan was released, women were seen working the same jobs as men.

With our ever changing society and the continuing changes in women’s roles and values, I would guess that Disney will never make another traditional princess.