The Changing Role of Women in Disney's Princess Movies. Feminism in the U.S.

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2014 , 18 Pages , Grade: 1,0

Cultural Studies - Miscellaneous

Bewitched by the magical atmosphere these films create, millions of girls are dreaming of becoming a Disney princess one day. Seeing girls and boys re-enact these fairy tales and in that way slip into the role of a princess the thought struck me in the context of my seminar about Feminism, in what way these movies influence children. Which concepts of womanhood do they foster and are these fairy tales really as timeless as the grandparents think they are?

Taking a closer look at the most successful and best known of all Disney princess movies, there are basically three waves, defined by their date of release. The first feature-length animated film Disney created was a story based on the Brother Grimm fairy tale “Schneewittchen”. The Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was premiered in 1937 and was an instant success, followed by Cinderella in 1950 and Sleeping Beauty in 1959. The next wave of princess movies were produced between 1989, starting with Little Mermaid, followed by Beauty and the Best (1991), Aladdin (1992), Pocahontas (1995) and ending in 1998 with Mulan, so basically during the 1990s.

The latest wave of Disney princess films is from 2009 on with The Princess and the Frog, then Tangled (2010), Brave (2012) and the last one was Frozen (2013). This is an enormous timeframe. The 1930s, 40s and 50s provided a completely different audience than the 1990s or the current decade, as society and especially gender roles changed a lot over time. Consequently one can also expect differences in the way the Walt Disney Company chose to depict its characters over the years.

This research paper will show that female gender roles in Disney princess movies respond to the change of society by portraying their Disney heroine much more assertive and less passive over time. To support this thesis one movie from each of the three waves which were introduced above will be analyzed exemplary for the period.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Changing Role of Women in Walt Disney's Princess Movies
  • The first wave: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
  • The second wave: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
    • Analysis of female gender roles in Beauty and the Beast
    • Comparison of the first and second wave of Disney princesses
  • The third wave: Frozen (2013)
    • Analysis of female gender roles in Frozen
    • Comparison of the second and third wave of Disney princesses
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This research paper examines the portrayal of female gender roles in Disney princess movies across three distinct waves of production, from the 1930s to the present day. By analyzing exemplary films from each era - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and Frozen (2013) - the paper aims to demonstrate how Disney's depictions of female characters evolved in response to changing societal views on gender.

• The changing depiction of female gender roles in Disney princess movies.
• The influence of societal shifts on the representation of women in popular media.
• The impact of Disney princess movies on children's conceptions of femininity and masculinity.
• The role of beauty and appearance in defining female characters.
• The evolving narrative arcs and character agency of Disney princesses.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: The chapter introduces the research topic by discussing the enduring popularity of Disney princess movies, particularly among young girls. It highlights the potential influence of these films on children's perceptions of gender roles and ponders whether the portrayal of women in these movies remains timeless or has evolved over time.
• The Changing Role of Women in Walt Disney's Princess Movies: This chapter sets the stage for the analysis by discussing the influence of societal norms and evolving gender roles on media representations. It introduces the three distinct waves of Disney princess films - the first wave (1930s-1950s), the second wave (1990s), and the third wave (2000s onwards) - and explains the rationale for selecting Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen as representative examples.
• The first wave: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937): The chapter provides a brief summary of the Snow White fairy tale and analyzes the portrayal of female characters, particularly Snow White and the evil queen. It discusses the focus on beauty and the prince's role as the ultimate fulfillment of Snow White's desires, highlighting the limitations placed upon female characters during this era.
• The second wave: Beauty and the Beast (1991): This chapter explores the portrayal of female characters in the second wave of Disney princess movies, focusing on Beauty and the Beast. It examines the characteristics of Belle and her relationships with the Beast and Gaston, highlighting how this film reflects changing societal expectations and gender dynamics.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This research paper explores the evolution of female gender roles in Disney princess movies, focusing on the key themes of beauty, agency, power, and societal influence. It analyzes films from three distinct waves of production, examining the representation of women in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, and Frozen.

• College: University of Würzburg (Philosophische Fakultät I)
• Course: Feminism in the U.S.: History, Ideas, and Politics
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Sarah Wenzel (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 18
• Catalog Number: V471472
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668960329
• ISBN (Book): 9783668960336
• Language: English
• Tags: Disney, Princess, Women, U.S., Feminism, Role, Movies, Frozen, Beauty, Beast, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Gender, Model, little, Mermaid