Reyes0
Shanill Reyes
ENG 101
Dr. DiSanza
12/11/2022
Outline
Title: I do not have one yet.
Possible Introduction: Imagine seating on the floor fixated on the television, watching whimsical images dancing before your eyes, and catchy songs running through your ears. You’ve seen it at least fifty times before. Stilling loving the Princesses of your childhood without realizing the effects they have instilled.
Possible Thesis: The evolution of the Disney Princess from 1937-2022 has changed over the generation. Each provides us with their version of how to and not to be a girl. Images of what female and male roles are in sociality. Ever wonder how these three generations of Disney Princesses have affected our children?
First Generation 1937-1959
The foundation of all princesses
True Love’s first kiss, Happily ever after
Movies of women who need a man to rescue them inorder to live a happy life.
Body Image
Young and White
At that time, it was normal for women to get married a bit younger and “white” was seen as beautiful in history at that time.
Thin and beautiful
Something that even now is a struggle to change. Yet here if the women are attracted then they get the men. As the women villain were seen as ugly. In Snow White, the witch who disguises herself as an old lady seems ugly. I think old people are cute. HA! Also, Cindy’s stepmom and sisters are drawn to not only act ugly but look ugly. As for Maleficent, I think she is gorgeous but being too smart makes her “ugly”. Touch more on that later
Gender roles
In the first princesses, they are damsel in distress that need to be saved by strong independent men. The princes are not really seem as much expect for Philip. In which the movie is about him saving a sleeping damsel. Also, I feel like without the men there would be no film because they kind of shape the storyline.
Men are more capable, stable, and superior. They are White, attractive, bluff, have money, power and confident. Goal Oriented
Women are supposed to be Housewives. Snow white offers to clean the Dwarves’ house as payment for staying with them. Cindy is a maid. They put others first.
Women are shown as affectional, helpful, tentative, domesticated, naive, and incompetent.
How love is Portrayal
Snow White, in the beginning, sees the prince but kind of rejects him, which makes him want to pursue her more. Snow white does not actually fall in love with the prince until after the first kiss. This means that the prince chose her and saved her. So, we need to wait for a random man to give us our first kiss to mean love.
Cindy wants to go to the ball and fall in love with the first man she ever dances with. The rest of the movie is him on a hunt for her and her waiting to be rescued. That one dance is all it takes to find your happily ever after.
Oh, Sleeping Beauty, meets Philip in the forest, and bang they fall in love. Then she gets cruse, sleeps most of the movie and it is Philip who saves the day. Love is finding a random man, sharing a song, and then having him go through the fire, poison vines, and kill a dragon in order to wake you up from your curse.
Second Generation 1989-1998
Diversity is brought into the princess
Disney brings in Native Americans and Asians (Chinese and Arab) toward the end of the ’90s. The princesses have more personality, emotions, and more of a say.
Body Image
Unnaturally small waistline, larger breasts than the first Princesses, skin now fair, and those big eyes. This devalues women’s bodies as unless we get surgery our bodies will never look like that.
Gender Roles
Now there are some small changes to the men characters. Everything in the first generation applies but with a few changes. Prince Eric can be seen as weak and strong. He is more emotional and affectionate. Beast our kidnapper friend is filled with emotions but also after warming up to Belle shows affection and kindness. Gaston, the arrogant, egoistic tough man, does not take no for an answer and gets very petty when he does not get what he wants. Aladdin is the first movie about a guy not much about the princess. John Smith kind of does everything he can to get Pocahontas’s approval, unlike the real historical story. Lastly, Shang in my opinion can be seen as bisexual. I would have to search that up, but I have always felt that way because he kind of has a thing for male Mulan.
Our princesses are not as domesticated they are coming out to be a little independent. These princesses are starting to speak their minds and doing what they find to be more to their hearts. Even though most of their choices are not the best and are influenced by men there is more thinking.
Jasmine and Arabs are seen as erotic, and sexy. The dresses they wear are more revealing and how they dance in the movie. As for Pocahontas, she is seen strong but there is still this kindness, gentle, and thoughtful. Mulan rejects femineity.
Stereotypes/Love
Little Mermaid, although she wanted to go to land and visit that other world, Eric is the main reason she finally does it. She wants to be with him so badly that she runs from her kingdom and gives up her voice and tail to be with him. Eric is what influences and shapes the storyline. In this story doing what your heart wants leads to abandoning your family and self-being.
Belle well as we all know is Stockholm syndrome. The fight she gives to save her father is great. Shows little girls that family is important. Yet instead of running when she is bombarded by wolves and the Beast saves her, she stays. Why!? She is still a prisoner and then from that romance is built. Beast is the one who wins honestly. Kidnap the women you want and sooner or later she’ll fall in love with you. These messages can lead to unhealthy relationships.
Aladdin really the primary focus is on him and when the social norm of women having no power hits Jasmine, she fights it. Jasmine speaks up a lot and does not really fall for Aladdin when he shows up as Ali. There is still this Arabs are brutal people when Aladdin is being chased but also dumb. The Sultan plays with toys and lets Jarfar kind of take the range very easily.
Mulan wants to save her father by going to war for him. The story tells girls that women should not go to war they must stay home, cook, clean, and be honorable to their families. Anything less is dishonorable. She still goes and makes friends, and everything is great. Yet it just shows you need to be a man to be heroic. When Mulan is found, we are then reminded that society might not always accept your decisions. She never gives up on her masculine traits, in the end, doesn’t fit the model, but is respected and in the end, accepted. But remember you must go to war first.
Third Generation 2009-2016
Finally, the princesses are what we would love to instill in our girls. Outspoken, independent, a little stubborn, leader, kind, etc. Now we have added two more diverse princesses, black and Samoan. There are still a bit of fixing that needs to be changed but a lot better.
Body Image/Personality
Each princess in the movie has a different body and for the first-time hair texture. Princess and the frog and Brave both have beautiful realistic curly hair. Moana is thicker, with smaller breasts, and thick legs. Men are not buff.
Gender Roles
Men have a few feminine characteristics kind of androgynous. The men are not as powerful anymore. They are either isn’t a male prince character or when there is he is portrayed differently. The prince in P/F is a spoiled rich playboy incompetent man. In Tangle, he is a smart-talking robber, who only wants money and jewels. As for Brave and Moana, there is no male prince leading.
These princesses did not have to get married to gain the title of princess. It is great that they are born princesses and already have titles, so in the end, there are no marriages. Although it is great it can also make girls think they will never be a princess unless they are born into it. These princesses are not a part of the “princess norm”. They are not graceful, quiet, and ladylike. They have aspirations, and a voice, and men are the last things in their minds because they want to live life and live their dreams.
Stereotypes/ Love
I think Tiana has this stereotype of colored people are workers, they make a big part of the working class. I only say this because she is the only princess that works her life away to open up a restaurant. She is a hard worker because she is the only princess who is of a lower class. Also, she is not human for most of the movie, she is a frog. So, the movie teaches hard work pays off very weirdly.
Falling in love is not important in these movies. It comes second to the story. P/F she is more focused on her goal that she doesn’t see really see him until after the mama odie song. Tangle is the same, her goal is more important than love for him.
Brave and Moana tell a story about love for their family, land, and people. Not thing to do with men.
Antagonist (I don’t know if I will add this)
Less attractive than the protagonist
They tend to be intelligent, independent, strong, powerful, and outspoken. These positive personalities are given to the villains making it seem like those traits are bad and ugly. This can lead young girls to want to associate with the princess’s personality more.