Disneyfication: Feminism, Fairytales, and Folklore -- Introduction

Photo from The Disney Wiki

How Walt Disney and his successors glorify women's roles in American society through animation.

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Part One: Introduction

Disney Princess movies act as time capsules of American society relative to the time of their conception. Each Princess embodies the traits that her society valued in young women. Taken as a whole, the princess movies serve as a signpost for the changing roles of women in American society.

Once upon a time is a phrase just about anyone is familiar with. The words evoke childhood memories of sword fights, storming the castle and sparkly tiaras. The major fairy tales and nursery rhymes are burned into our collective memories. But most people don’t think about the history or nature of those stories. Joe Schmo on the street probably thinks Walt Disney, or some employee, wrote the fairy tales that grace the big screen. Most Americans don’t think about the men who penned the tales, or the centuries of grandmothers who told the stories to children.

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This article is the first of many about the Disney princesses, their roots in other fairytales and folklore, and their portrayal of American women across time. If you enjoyed this post and want to read more, stay tuned! Please comment and discuss this post below!

This post was written by Robin and reviewed by ​Brad, the creators of the Everyday Magic Blog.

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