How Does Walt Disney Portray The Women In Princess Anna Of Frozen

Walt Disney released their 12th princess movie in 2013. From the first, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to the most recent, Frozen, the princesses have developed and evolved into entirely new characters. Now filled with action and adventure that was not present in the early princess films, the newer releases portray princesshood in a different regard. These new princesses have more wit, cleverness, independence, and ambition than was present in the originals but there is still a hint of the original flavor which overtakes what has been added over the years. From Princess Anna of Frozen all the way back to Snow White, Disney princesses portray unrealistic beauty standards for women of all ages. As adults we understand that the ideals presented
Through this, girls are shown that females are capable of doing more than marrying a prince and living in royalty – a very different concept than what is portrayed by the previous princesses. Mulan “demonstrates levels of strength and leadership that were inconceivable in the depiction of the traditional white, well-groomed princess” (Stover 2013:4). Mulan’s heroic fleet is abruptly ended when her true female identity is discovered, resulting in rejection and betrayal. This is a reflection of the oppression that Disney’s female characters are still trapped in; there remains a lack of equality between males and females. Mulan was not free to be a brave, courageous women - as a female she was still expected to be submissive, delicate, and refined. Continuing her rebellion towards traditional gender roles, Mulan assists in the final defeat of the Huns and is offered a high-ranking position within the Emperor’s council. However, Mulan declines this offer and asks to return to her family. The traditional gender roles that Disney holds to are shown to be more prominent than the deviant path in which Mulan took in