Women and stereotypes in Disney animated films have gradually changed over the years; From the early 1900s, starting with their first feature film Snow White (1937) to their most recent box office hit Frozen (2013). Since the Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923, how women's roles were portrayed depended on the time period. Snow White (1937), Cinderella (1950) and Sleeping Beauty (1959) were the first Disney princesses of the era. All three princesses were depicted as helpless or as damsels in distress, saved by a prince's sword or kiss. Cinderella, in particular, was a prime example of this stereotype. Living with her neglectful stepmother and sisters, she was repressed by all the daily activities her stepfamily took part in. She was regularly tormented and forced to be a slave; cleaning and cooking for his spoiled family members. He didn't have the self-esteem to defend himself. All three of these princesses had supporting characters who cared about them, had a happy ending, and "married the prince." Cinderella's godmother magically gives her a dress, a carriage and glass slippers, and even the house mice help her. Snow White has the seven dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty has her three fairy godmothers. As the second wave of women's rights emerged, Disney also improved the role of women. With The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), and Beauty and the Beast (1991), they all had different roles and shared one specific trait: curiosity. They also tried something new. Belle was most notable for the fact that what defined her was her brain and intellect. Beauty and the Beast really pushed the patriarchal view of women in France at the time. With Gaston being the...center of the paper...dime films show complete independence and variety of features. Works Cited Thomas, O. (1995, October 26). Cinderella. Christian Science Monitor. P. 12. Garside, C. (2006). Animated essentialized females. International Journal Of The Humanities, 3(6), 33-40. England, D., Descartes, L., & Collier-Meek, M. (2011). Representation of gender roles and Disney princesses. Sex Roles, 64(7/8), 555-567.Zarranz, L. (2007). DO DISWOMEN CONTRACT? THE EVOLUTION OF DISNEY FEMALE IN THE 90'S. Athenaeum, 27(2), 55-67. Snow White (December 21, 1937). FilmCinderella(15 February 1950) Film.Sleeping Beauty(29 January 1959) Film.The Little Mermaid(17 November 1989) Film.Aladdin(25 November 1992) Film.Beauty and the Beast(29 September 1991) Film.Mulan (June 19, 1998) Film.Lilo and Stitch(June 21, 2002) Film.Brave(June 22, 2012) Film.Frozen(November 27, 2013) Film.