Disney princesses have evolved from traditional fairy tale heroines to strong, determined women. Early princesses relied on men for rescue, but the rise of feminism led to a reinvention of the princess in the 1980s. The Little Mermaid introduced a rebellious and ambitious princess, paving the way for heroines like Pocahontas and Mulan. Disney princesses offer role models for both genders and are easier for men to identify with than male heroes.
A Disney princess is one of the many female heroines of Disney animated films. While not always princesses by birth, these women are generally praised for their determination, skill, and strong will. Disney has long used princesses as main characters, from the righteous Snow White to the feisty modern Mulan.
In early films, the princess was often the heroine of a traditional fairy tale. She met the standards of early 20th century American ideals for beauty, obedience, and gentleness. Often, the early films feature a damsel-in-distress theme, where the heroine needs to be rescued by a handsome neighboring prince. Cinderella, for example, is condemned to remain in her enforced servitude until she can elope by marriage. While these tales were based on traditional legends, they quickly fell out of favor as women’s rights became a serious issue in America.
In the rise of feminism, this type of Disney princess has become a thorn in the side of women’s rights activists. Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty seem unable to get out of their own troubles. They are all forced to rely on men for their escape, even bartering in marriage to get out of their predicament. Disney attempted to soften the anti-strong female image by suggesting that the Disney princess has always been their savior’s true love, but the woman in peril began to wear out in the wake of the 1960s.
In the 1980s the Disney princess was reinvented with the release of The Little Mermaid. While Ariel the mermaid still marries her true love at the end of the film, she is written as a rebellious and ambitious girl who plays a serious role in her own success. The massive success of The Little Mermaid has led to a huge revival, for both the Disney princess and the Disney animation department.
Soon, Disney princesses could do anything they wanted. Pocahontas bravely risked her life to save an innocent stranger, while cunning Mulan fought off an entire invading Hun army and saves China from total destruction. Girls of the 1980s and 1990s were given a whole new set of role models in these fiery princesses, which did little to diminish the fun of even the previous princesses. Today, girls and boys can choose identity figures from the Disney canon that match their preferences or ambitions, with Cinderella and Jasmine enjoying equal popularity among Disney princess fans.
The Disney Princess is an important figure for more reasons than simply her influence on girls. Disney films in general tend to feature female heroines more frequently than male heroes, for a variety of reasons. Some experts, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer and creator Joss Whedon, believe it’s also easier for men to identify with a female power figure than a male one. Cultural gender stereotypes allow powerful women to stay more in touch with their weaknesses and insecurities, where typical male heroes are often portrayed as tough and consistently strong. Some suggest that the Disney princess provides a universal role model for viewers of both genders, while a Disney prince may be more difficult to make accessible to a broad audience.
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