Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White is the very first princess to have ever been released by Walt Disney Studios. She has become an iconic character and an inspiration to young women everywhere. However, if we look closer into the film, we come to question "what really makes Snow White worthy of becoming our idol?" Many of the earlier Disney princesses, like this one, exhibit a dependency that marks the stereotype of women. In the animated feature, Snow White seems as if she is merely going through the motions of daily life. Let's be real, who would be so silly as to actually consume an apple from this lady?
![Picture](/uploads/5/4/0/2/5402061/5222897.jpg)
Princesses like Snow White are too wired in their naiveté that they present a lowly image of women and their intelligence. Snow White doesn't actually put much thought into what she's doing but rather dreams about the day her prince charming will arrive - a typical "damsel in distress." (Hence, the infamous song from the film score "Someday My Prince Will Come"). Figuratively and literally, she's dead until her prince comes to rescue her. Some might take it as a metaphor for how inept and idle Snow White is; unable to save herself until the arrival of a man. Shortly afterwards, the two of them ride off into the sunset to be married (despite the fact that they've only known each other for a brief period of time). She's pretty, dainty, and passive - traits of women that were common in the late 1930s. During that time period, society expected little from women. It was uncommon for women to even hold jobs. Instead, they were grounded to the limitations of society. It wasn't until a few years later at the commencement of World War II, that Americans began seeing women as more than just passive housewives. The wartime poster "We Can Do It!" came out in 1943. "Rosie the Riveter" acted as a form of inspiration and self-empowerment among women, encouraging them to enter the workforce and factories. This instilled idea that women could not be independent but rather a supplement to men was never completely shattered. It's evident in the Disney animated films since Merida from Brave (which came out in 2012) is the only main heroine not to end up with a man at the end of the movie. Although Snow White may be considered the most iconic or "quintessential" princess, there exists character flaws within her that misrepresent women.