Snow White And Cinderella Gender Analysis

The media today is overflowing with idealistic representations of modern life; society’s hunger for excellence is reproduced in every detail of the media we consume. Reality, in contrast, is a poor substitute for the fairytale world of film, where good beats evil and stories end with a happily ever after. Arguably, women are often the “victims” of motion picture’s perfect perceptions, and feminism’s persistent test is to challenge these impractical representations. The female princess characters show an example of inaccurate feminine fulfillment. In 1937 Walt Disney Studios premiered their first animated movie called “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (Davis). Its cherished characters and remarkable villain made it an instantaneous brilliant

However, Tangled offers strong evidence that Disney’s representation of its female princesses has changed very little over the years (Ellorin). Rapunzel’s big eyes and gorgeous long lashes are now a trademark belonging to almost every Disney Princess, as is the tiny waist and elegantly curved body image “Western standards of beauty” (Cohen). Rapunzel’s tremendously long, blonde hair is symbolic of her prime and purity; also has been used as a weapon as a rope and whip on occasion and the object of her mother’s, and men’s, desire. Her hair is a metaphor for her virginal youth and beauty. Flynn fights other men for this, and it is essentially significant to him because of the riches, authority and “bragging rights” it could get him. Her hair is the reason her jealous mother Gothel follows her, because of it’s magic healing powers it possesses, which helps her mother stay young and beautiful. Patriarchal portrayals of optimal femininity have led to the sexualization of Disney’s princesses, creating the Disney Princess stereotype. In comparison then, Snow White and Tangled are “prototypical Disney” (Manduke). They represent the classic male of female youth and beauty, as well as conformity to the significant order. Just as Snow White is a victim until her prince rescues her, Rapunzel is not confident enough to violate her mother’s orders until handsome Flynn Ryder enters her tower.

Frozen goes against every classic Disney princess movie direction, even making fun of the past movies through indirect jokes (Davis). For example, when being introduced to Hans, Anna’s first love interest, Elsa exclaims, “you can’t marry a man you just met.” Elsa is just preaching out realistic values to Anna, but also hinting a subtle joke about the other princess movies because they in fact marry one another right away. One main difference among Frozen and previous Disney Princess films is the fact that there are two female lead characters present, Queen Elsa and Princess Anna. Although there are male characters, the story of Frozen move around personal experiences of Elsa and Anna. The men only partake in little roles, not having anything to do with the future of Elsa and Anna. The most relevant and significant concept defined in Frozen, is that the bond shared between two sisters is, in fact, true love. Frozen was very astounding to the audience because a Disney princess and Disney Queen received their “happily ever after” without the help of a man (Davis). For the first time, a man was not necessary for an act of true love to