White Patriarchal Capitalism: The Golden Age of Animation

By: Zo Smith

Its no secret that dominant ideologies are presented throughout film of all time periods.

If you were to take a look at the famous and popular, yet stereotypical Indiana Jones film, exists

a straight white male who is opposed by evil male criminals, out to take over the world.

However, White Patriarchal Capitalism goes much deeper than that. Not only does it appear in

actions films, its commonly found in the old Disney classics. The 1930s- 1950s was a time

known as The Golden Age of Animation. Walt Disney and other major animators produced

cartoons and movies that identified the dominant ideology, and gender role stereotypes.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was one of the first major successful animations

produced by Walt Disney. The film came out in 1937. Gender roles and stereotypes play a huge

part throughout this animation. In this film, Snow White is a young girl, who has an evil Queen

plotting to kill her. Due to this, she ends up running away and is taken in by the Seven Dwarfs.

Its not long into the movie when you realize the gender roles are very obvious when paying

attention to it. Snow White ends up taking care of the Seven Dwarfs, as well as cooking and

cleaning for/ after them. Well into the middle of the film, they end up wanting to keep her

around because of her motherly figure.

This goes to show the problem with the kind of message this movie is presenting. The

target audience for this kind of film revolves around children. It sends the wrong message when

the women appears as a homemaker as her only role. The dwarfs on the other hand, signify that

men are definitely the dominant ideology during this time. They are the manly men. It is not in

their roles to cook or clean. They simply go to work, and come home. Aside from the Seven
Dwarfs is the prince. Another stereotypical dominant ideology, Prince Charming comes to save

the day and rescue Snow White from the evil queen. Since he gets Snow White out of the life she

was living in, hes considered her savior. When watching the film, it seems like a feel-good

happy ending. However when you pay closer attention, youll notice that this film is a fantastic

example of gender stereotypes. The women is the caretaker, and the man is the savior.

Pinocchio was also another animation produced by Walt Disney. The film came out in

1940. This is also considered a Disney classic, and is very well known to the majority of people.

Lots of people enjoyed this animation and it ended up being successful. The only downside to

Pinocchio is the fact that the gender roles are even more clear than in Snow White, but in a

different way. Pinocchio is about a carpenter named Gepetto. He made a puppet in the shape of a

boy, and wished for it to be a real boy. A fairy granted his wish and gave the puppet life. As long

as the puppet was a good boy and always told the truth. The story is mostly male-based. One

of the few female characters that play a role in this film is the Blue Fairy. Although the fairy

plays an exceptionally important part in this film, she is hardly shown. Not only is she a barely

featured in this animation, shes not even given a name. She is just known as The Blue Fairy as

if she was an object, and opposed to a character. The only other female character that has a part

in this film is a Goldfish named Cleo. The fish belonged to Gepetto. She is featured throughout

the movie in small parts, but shes a fish. The only female characters that have a bigger part in

this movie, are a fish and a fairy. Whereas the males in this film, get much bigger roles, unlike

the women.
 In 1950, a film called Cinderella was produced. It happens to be one of the most well

known Disney movies there is to date. Most people have seen or heard the story of Cinderella.

Most of them have seen this animation when they were younger, as the film is entertaining, light,

and fun...as a fairytale should be. Nonetheless, the more people become aware of gender roles,

they tend to stand out more. Gender roles during this time not only have women being

caretakers, and motherly, but they also have the expectation to be weak, or passive. The

stereotype for women in this era is the need to be rescued by a man, or that marriage is the goal,

and happiness doesnt exist if you dont have it. The story of Cinderella beings with a young girl,

whos father dies. Unfortunately, shes left with her horrible stepmother, and two envious

stepsisters. Her stepmother treats her truly poorly. A bit into the beginning of the movie, her

dreadful stepmother forbids her to go to the royal ball. This film is an example of women being

weak, and not taking control. For years, Cinderella suffers from the cruelty caused by her

stepmother and stepsisters. Unlike her stepsisters, Cinderella is left to do all the housekeeping.

She is expected to wash the dishes, scrub the floors, feed the animals, and be a personal servant

to her stepmother...all day, every day. Although she was immensely unhappy, she was passive

about her situation, and just waiting to be saved.

Luckily, Cinderellas fairy godmother made it possible for her to attend the royal ball.

With some magic, she could have the night she wished for. But only until midnight, which is

when the magic would wear off, and she would have to go back to her normal life. At this royal

ball, she meets her prince charming, where he instantly falls in love with her. Despite the fact

that this film seems innocent, the gender roles dont ever end. The Prince falls in love with

Cinderella the first time he sees her. Without getting to know her. It was merely based on
physical appearance. Not because of her personality. This film portrays that the goal for women

is to be beautiful. It sends a negative message to its viewers by intending that a woman's worth

comes from her beauty.

Marriage is a common goal found throughout Disney films, and in everyday life. Often

times, women fear that they will end up unhappy if they dont find love or marriage. This film

sends out an obvious message to its viewers. It proposes that the only way Cinderella can escape

her current living situation from her awful stepmother, is to marry her way out, and be saved by

her prince charming. Again, the man is the savior...and Cinderella does nothing herself to get out

of her living situation.

About three years later, another very successful film known as Peter Pan came out. The

story of Peter Pan and The Lost Boys is about three children. Wendy, John, and Michael that get

a visit from Peter Pan. He convinces them to go to fly to Neverland, an island home to the Lost

Boys. Many people still enjoy the story about the boy who never grows up, including children.

The lack of women's roles in this animation is apparent. Wendy, one of the children that came to

neverland doesnt quite get to do all the same things that the lost boys do. Wendy only being a

child, is given a motherly role in the film. Although Wendy wants to be like the other kids, and

explore the island, and fight pirates, Peter makes it clear that she was there for be the caretaker.

Peter Pan states And you could darn our clothes, and make pockets for us. None of us has any

pockets. Wendy was meant to fulfil her motherly duties throughout the film.

Besides the fact that she was only a child, she thought that was she was suppose to do,

because she was taking example after her mother. Mrs. Darling was considered a lovely lady, as

well as the perfect mother. Gender roles play a huge part throughout this movie. Mr. Darling, the
father of Wendy, John and Michael and the husband to Mrs. Darling plays the stereotypical

white male. He is the main source of income, and plays the dominant role in the family, and his

wife Mrs. Darling is his caretaker, always by his side. This family is clearly a great example of

gender role stereotypes.

However, it doesnt just end at their home. At Neverland, not only is Wendy considered

the lost boys mother, Peter Pan starts to be considered their father. After some time, they start to

form a family. Peter is a great example of the dominant male. He plays a leader role, to the lost

boys and even Wendy. Peter proves his masculinity to Wendy and the lost boys in the film by

defeating the pirates, including Captain Hook, who was out to get him. Then later saving Wendy.

Another classic example in Disney where the female needs to be rescued by the male.

One of the most famous Disney characters came out of Peter Pan is named Tinkerbell.

Unlike Wendy, (who wore a long nightgown throughout the film) Tinkerbell would wear a short

green dress. She had blonde hair, and the ideal body with the hourglass shape. Theres a lot to

compare the way Wendy and Tinkerbell get treated. For example, the mermaids in this film tease

Wendy for being in a nightgown, when she thought the mermaids were enchanting and beautiful.

This goes to show that beauty is the clear priority to women in this film, and if you dont live up

to the standards, you get made fun of.

Six years later, Sleeping Beauty came out towards the end of the Golden Age of

Animation. Produced in 1959, another popular Disney Movie takes place. Sleeping Beauty is

about an evil witch, who curses a girl named Aurora to die on her 16th Birthday. With the help
of her guardian fairies, she would be put into a deep sleep instead. She could only be awaken

from a kiss from Prince Phillip.

The gender roles and stereotypes are already noticeable by just summarizing the

film. When going more into detail, its crystal clear. Disney goes to create an imagine of the

ideal women. The title is literally called Sleeping Beauty. Beauty already puts a subconscious

idea in your head that beauty is the priority. The gift of beauty was given to Aurora fairies. They

gave her red lips and golden hair, the ideal body imagine that women want to attain. Aside from

the ideology of beauty, comes the idea of love. Similar to most Disney movies, the Prince comes

along. When Sleeping Beauty and the Prince meet, they instantly fall in love. Similar to

Cinderella, the prince falls in love with the woman before knowing her. It was love at first sight,

based upon looks. This obviously sends the wrong message to its viewers (mostly children) that

you find love because of your looks, not based on who you are. Of course in the end of the film,

they end up getting married. Sleeping Beauty gets her happily ever after. Not because she was

no longer under a spell by the evil queen, but because she was with her prince. The prince who

saved her, and helped to make her dreams come true.

All of these Disney movies are classics. Some of the most popular and money making

animations during that time. It seems as though that they are just kids movies. Lighthearted and

feel-good. As this is true, its important to notice the lack of equality between men and women.

Stereotypes, gender roles and dominant ideologies. Although Disney was aware of the

conspicuous roles that each character portrayed, they didnt change it. Granted, this was in the

1930s-1950s, and gender roles are not nearly as apparent now. However, they still currently

exist throughout film and culture.

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