Gender roles in Cinderella (1950)

As an 18-year-old teenager rewatching Cinderella (1950), my knowledge of the prescriptive and rigid gender roles heavily emphasized during the 1950s makes me realize how the content and portrayal of women in Disney films are very much influenced by the prevailing sociocultural context in which in the film is produced. These are the three main messages I took away from the film:

1. Women belong in the household
The cult of domesticity reigned in the 1800s and early 1900s and saw a resurgence in 1950s, especially after World War II. Upon getting married, women were expected to stay at home and perform household chores. Just like Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937), Cinderella’s role as a servant demonstrates such a prescriptive gender role that women are expected to be housewives.

Further, Cinderella is much like her dog, Bruno, in that she upholds her sense of loyalty in serving Lady Tremaine. Cinderella clearly loathes being confined to the domestic sphere, for she keeps lamenting, “You know the orders…”. But she nevertheless continues to obey and submit to Lady Tremaine. She surely has ample of opportunities to run away, but she choose not to.

2. Marriage = “escape”, “security”?
It’s interesting how Disney first introduced Cinderella singing “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes”, because I believe that Cinderella’s dream becomes clear when we understand the prevailing attitudes surrounding gender roles in the 1950s.

In light of the rigid and prescriptive gender roles back then, marriage was perceived as obtaining a sense of security in one’s life. Yet, this was often tied to how many women saw marriage as the best outlet to escape poverty.

Is “the dream that [Cinderella wishes] will come true” an attachment to a handsome, rich and in all highly eligible man? In the film, every girl wants to be Prince Charming’s wife, including Cinderella and her step-sisters. Cinderella herself fights to try on the glass slipper, seemingly desperate to prove herself and escape the household.

In the end, Cinderella indeed achieves her “happily ever after” by marrying Prince Charming.

But let’s put this into context - Cinderella is obviously rushing into marriage, with a guy she doesn’t even know that well. Such impulsivity will not serve her well in real life. You never know whether she will continue to be confined to the household with the royal family....

3. Looks determine a woman’s value and self-worth
When Prince Charming sees Cinderella, albeit from a far distance, he’s mesmerized and instantly falls in love with her. No need to get to know each other, but looks are key. This idea that the prince falls in love with the princess solely based on looks is not only applied to Cinderella but also to Snow White and Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty (1959).

Disney gives Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora flat, one-dimensional personalities as all are the typical kind, gentle and traditionally feminine woman. Yet, the princes don’t even consider the kind and gentle personalities of Cinderella, Snow White and Aurora. The only ones who do seem to really understand Cinderella are the animals like Jaq, Gus and Bruno.