The earliest Disney princesses portrayed a traditional gender role. They were all pretty, delicate, and super feminine young women who needed a prince charming to rescue them from bad people and distressful situations.
Many of us grew up watching these popular Disney movies and fawning over the princesses who achieved their happily ever after, following matrimony. I wouldn’t call these movies toxic, but there’s no denying that they played an important role in establishing female stereotypes.
The idea of marrying into royalty was the dream. One would assume that a woman who failed to find a rich and handsome man to wed her was an outcast. I’m not saying that Disney movies promoted that kind of message, but they didn’t do much to defy the stereotypes either. Fortunately, that changed after the release of Mulan in 1998.
Now, let’s talk about the six legendary Disney princesses who broke stereotypes and challenged outdated traditions:
1. Tiana
Tiana, from The Princess and the Frog (released in 2009), is the first African American member of the Disney princess franchise. She is not the typical damsel in distress or some cursed princess stuck in a castle tower. She is a hardworking and ambitious young woman who works as a waitress and dreams of opening her own restaurant.
The backstory of Tiana is certainly more realistic and relatable compared to most classic Disney princesses. Even though she does ultimately end up with a prince, it’s not her primary or sole goal in life. She never gives up on her dream despite making a place for herself among royalty, which should inspire young women to be financially independent.
2. Mulan
The release of the animated Disney film Mulan in 1998 was epic, as it showcases a woman of color going against traditions and rivaling men in terms of physical power. This Disney princess is a young woman from China whose parents want her to be a good wife, but she is adventurous and wants to do more than that.
When the emperor orders one man from every family to join the army, Mulan gets worried about the health of her father. Since she doesn’t have a brother, she decides to disguise herself as a man and take her father’s place. She seems too weak for the responsibility at first, but she gradually builds her strength and beats all odds.
3. Moana
Moana is a young Polynesian woman living on an island, which is far from how we picture a Disney princess. She lacks the usual sharp facial features and frail body type expected from the franchise, which is indeed a breath of air. This young woman doesn’t have any love interest and her motivations lie elsewhere.
Moana’s parents have raised her to lead the tribe one day, but she is born with a wild and free spirit. When a blight strikes the island, it is up to Moana to save her family and everyone else who inhabits the place. She sets off on a voyage to retrieve the heart of the island and gets shipwrecked in the process. Despite the hardships, she keeps going forward and manages to emerge successful.
4. Merida
Merida is another untamed and rebellious princess who doesn’t care much about marrying a man to match her status. Being of Scottish origin, she doesn’t fit the conventional Disney princess persona, but she is born into royalty.
She has a mother who is constantly disapproving of her unsophisticated habits and shenanigans. Tired of her mother’s reprimanding, Merida makes a wish she later regrets. Speaking of her character, she is strong-willed and someone who can stand up for herself. She doesn’t need a man to come and save her when danger strikes.
5. Rapunzel
Rapunzel is a kidnapped princess stowed away in a tall tower by an evil witch who pretends to be her mother. Having royal blood in her veins, she does exhibit princess-like beauty and innocence, but she’s not defenseless. When the time comes, she can be incredibly smart and resourceful – qualities that were mostly absent in earlier princesses.
Rapunzel doesn’t have a prince charming to come and rescue her. However, she does manage to escape the tower with the help of a thief. Rather than having the guy protect her amidst the unknown world outside, it is she who saves him from a bad fate several times.
6. Elsa
Elsa isn’t technically a princess. She is an iconic ice queen who can rule the kingdom without a man by her side – impressive, right? Elsa is also labeled as the first queer or gay Disney icon, so we may consider her a “snowflake.” She has superpowers, she is pretty much invincible, and she doesn’t believe in love at first sight (how bizarre!).
The movie Frozen also breaks stereotypes by focusing on a different kind of love. The concept of a true love’s kiss always involves a princess and prince charming, but here the sisterly bond is given greater credibility.
Who is your favorite Disney princess and how has she inspired you in life? Do you look up to the exceptional animated women mentioned in this post? If we managed to pique your interest in Disney princesses, why not plan a movie marathon this weekend? Subscribe to one of Mediacom Bundles, so you can watch them all in HD!