The Impact of the Glass Shoe

The first movie I ever remember watching was was Snow White at age 4. That same day I told my mother that I decided that for that year I wanted my birthday party to be Snow White themed. I remember wearing that blue and yellow dress with such pride and happiness for days after. While watching that same movie I watched years ago in class - I now saw it with new eyes but still with that same nostalgia and sparkling eyes of before. As years change, society follows. In 1937, when the Snow White movie first came out (Era 1) it presented what at that time a princess "should be"; sitting looking down at a wishing well waiting for the one she loves. In the '80s and '90s (Era 2) we see the princesses evolve to be more determined and hold opinions and thoughts of their own and the wishing well now becomes telling her father that perhaps she doesn't want to marry (Jasmine). Young girls see the evolution that a girl can be both pretty but also stand up for herself and her beliefs. In present-day (Era 3), princesses such as Moana and Elsa demonstrate the importance of family, a difference from Ariel who gave up her voice and seeing her family forever for a prince. Disney understood the impact of the glass shoe. With each era, the mindset of girls changed teaching the young girls of today that inner strength is also beautiful and that is something the "mirror mirror on the wall" can't always capture.