Frozen in Time: How Disney Gender-Stereotypes Its Most Powerful Princess

Abstract

Disney's animated feature Frozen (2013) received acclaim for presenting a powerful heroine, Elsa, who is independent of men. Elsa's avoidance of male suitors, however, could be a result of her protective father's admonition not to "let them in" in order for her to be a "good girl." In addition, Elsa's power threatens emasculation of any potential suitor suggesting that power and romance are mutually exclusive. While some might consider a princess's focus on power to be refreshing, it is significant that the audience does not see a woman attaining a balance between exercising authority and a relationship. Instead, power is a substitute for romance. Furthermore, despite Elsa's seemingly triumphant liberation celebrated in Let It Go, selfless love rather than independence is the key to others' approval of her as queen. Regardless of the need for novel female characters, Elsa is just a variation on the archetypal power-hungry female villain whose lust for power replaces lust for any person, and who threatens the patriarchal status quo. The only twist is that she finds redemption through gender-stereotypical compassion.

From Shapeshifter to Lava Monster: Gender Stereotypes in Disney’s Moana

“…Despite the promise of a new, ostensibly modern Disney princess, Moana reinforces gender stereotypes, perpetuating patterns found in other Disney princess films (Coyne et al 2016;England et al 2011;Dundes and Streiff 2016;Streiff and Dundes 2017). As the movie ends, Moana has ventured beyond the reef and explores the open seas, but under the tutelage of her father who now approves of her, a simplified Electral finish without complications of a love interest.…”

“…Although Chief Tui decrees that no one go beyond the reef, he seems most concerned that his daughter abide by the rule. Moana's rebellion and her father's adamancy in trying to keep her safe at home add an Electral element that pits a daughter's yen to explore against her father's unwillingness to allow his daughter to look for more "fish in the sea" (a theme of paternal control of sexuality also in Frozen (Streiff and Dundes 2017)). It is key that this restriction comes only from Moana's father; in fact, the mother does not have much of a role in the movie and acts more like a friend than an authority figure.…”

“…The application of Freudian thought provides one possible reading of the gender patterns that are repeatedly employed in Disney movies, probably unconsciously, but in accordance with patriarchal hierarchy and hypermasculinity, as explored in the authors' prior analyses of Disney movies (e.g., Dundes and Streiff 2016;Streiff and Dundes 2017).…”

Storm Power, an Icy Tower and Elsa’s Bower: The Winds of Change in Disney’s Frozen

“…However, this power is not unleashed until she frees herself of her father's order to metaphorically repress her sexuality, which had been accomplished by covering her hands with gloves (Streiff and Dundes 2017a). 10 After Anna accidentally pulls off one of Elsa's gloves at the coronation ball, an act that wreaks havoc, Elsa removes the second glove during the song 'Let it Go'.…”

“…As such, a strike of lightning or winds that blow connote storm power and fertility; similar to the stroke of (phallic) pens, they are part of unconscious gendered symbolism as when Elsa eventually uses her hands to defrost Arendelle, first looking down at them (1:27:53) before ending her rebellion against paternal pressure to be the perfect daughter, which entailed concealing her power (Streiff and Dundes 2017a) to be stereotypically ladylike.…”