Progression of Women in Disney Movies

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Recommended: Gender roles in disney and the impact and childrens identity

A. Plan of the Investigation
This essay focuses on the progression of women in Disney movies as feminist movements thrived and gender equality grew. To assess the extent to which the characters changed over the course of history, the investigation compares the personality traits and behavior of the lead characters in the Disney movies “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Mulan.” Within this investigation, connections are drawn between the growth of independence in real-life women and that of Disney characters. Over the course of the 20th century the feminist revolution took charge and the gender gap began to close. This investigation identifies the parallels between the Disney character and the women of the time period in which it was produced.
The three sources evaluated throughout the investigation are the “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” produced in 1937 by William Cottrell and David Hand, “Beauty and the Beast” produced in 1991 by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, and “Mulan” produced in 1998 Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook. As these movies were produced, the characteristics of the princesses came in three distinct clumps. For the purposes of this essay, Snow White represents the modest princesses from 1937 to 1959 as she is the most extreme example of these characteristic and sets the stage for those to come. For the curious princess of 1989 to 1992, Belle from Beauty and the Beast will represent the ongoing wonder of women striving for freedom. For the strong princesses of 1995 to 1998, Mulan will provide an example of a determined and strong woman fighting for herself and her country.

B. Summary of Evidence
Over the course of the 20th century gender roles of women have drastically changed. After ...

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...Race and Gender Role Portrayal in Disney Princess Films." Diss. Saint Mary’s College, 2011. Print.

• Mulan. Dir. Tony Bancoft and Barry Cook. By Robert D. San Souci. Screenplay by Rita Hsisao and Christopher Sanders. Walt Disney, 1998. Videocassette.

• Sawyer, Nicole. Feminist Outlooks at Disney Princess‘s. Diss. James Madison University, 2011.. Print.

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. By Walt Disney, David Hand, Perce Pearce, Larry Morey, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton S. Luske, Vladimir Tytla, Fred Moore, Norm Ferguson, Ted Sears, Otto Englander, Earl Hurd, Dorothy Ann Blank, Richard Creedon, Dick Rickard, Maris Merrill De, Webb Smith, Albert Hurter, Joe Grant, Frank Churchill, Leigh Harline, Paul J. Smith, Eric Larson, James Algar, Al Eugster, Grim Natwick, and Jimmie Culhane. Distributed by Buena Vista Film Distribution Co., 1937

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