Disneyfication: Feminism, Fairytales, and Folklore -- Part 2: Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora

bemfinearts
Apr 28, 2014
1 min read

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.

In 1937, Walt Disney and his team premiered the first full length animated feature film. The film is based specifically on the Grimm’s version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Over a decade later Disney studios released Cinderella and then Sleeping Beauty nine years later. Collectively, the first three princesses represent the role of women in mid-century America. The heroines are sweet, friendly and overly feminine, with a Stepford-esque tinge. Of course, such portrayal fits into other representations from the time. Had the princess stories continued past the royal weddings, Cinderella would appear more like June Cleaver.

To read more, visit our feature articles page by clicking here

This article is the second installment 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!

This article was written by Robin and reviewed by Brad, creators of the Everyday Magic Blog