Disney Leading Ladies - What's your take?

I'm not sure where this topic would go.  It's not exactly entertainment based even though it contends with films. But here goes...

I'm working on a structuralist read of gender identity in Disney feature animation.  That being said, of course this is a topic I find extremely fascinating!  Hence its appearance here.  Without going into details, I'm interested in hearing your examples of strong, positive female characters in Disney films.

Can you think of any strong, positive female roles within Disney feature animation? What makes them positive role-models?  What do you like about them?  And of course, feel free to add any snippets on anything related including the portrayal of male characters as well.  I'm not looking for tricky answers. I'm just curious to see what else is out there.  It's different discussing these sorts of things with animators/academia and everyone else.  And quite frankly, as much as I love the animators, sometimes you need the "everyone else".

Thanks for the feedback!
Cheers!
-Scribbles

There's not many to be honest, I think Disney have historically been pretty sexist.  I read an interesting article on it once, basically there's only a handful of Disney characters that had a mother in the films, even if they had a mother in the original story.  Most of them had fathers they doted on or who protected them.  There's a huge reliance on men in Disney movies.

That's all just up in the air though really if you ask me, I don't know if I think Disney movies are that deep.  As for strong Disney females i'd say Belle, Megara and.. Esmeralda.  Belle because she wanted more than a dull "provincial life", Meg because she was sassy and cool, and Esmeralda because she was pretty badass (interesting because her original character in the book was a complete bimbo).  I think a lot has to do with the voice actress too.

At the end though they all need a man to save them, but I guess that's what fairy tales are all about?  I love Disney movies.   

Lilo and Lilo's aunt are great! Independent, loving, imaginative, kind, not afraid to be different, secure.

Sally in Cars, smart, sassy, also independent, presented as an equal, not subservient.

The Incredibles were also very good role models in the same sort of sense.

What the modern Disney movies seem to be doing with their female characters is making them individuals who aren't insecure about their individuality.

Pocahontis (spl) was great for several reasons. First of which was her independence that allowed her to go against the norms of her family and culture. Of course her understanding of the environment was also nice.

Like wise I would say that Mulan was pretty good role model for young women. Even Ariel pursued her dream despite her father's wishes. Belle showed a high level of compassion towards those different from her.

Barbie has always gotten the bad rap for unrealistic body proportions, but what about Sleeping Beauty!?!  I think her neck may actually be bigger than her waist... 

It is still one of my favorite Disney movies though!

I would also say Pocahontas....Strong Woman..adventure seeking...interested in her family and home surroundings.....spiritual and interested in the world around her including new cultures...Wanting to achieve more out of life than what she currently had...

My kinda gal 

Jasmine in Aladdin was also very forthright. 

Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame became the heroine...fighting for equal rights..

I always thought Mary Poppins was pretty feisty. Also, the mother in that film was a suffragette.

I always thought Mary Poppins was pretty feisty. Also, the mother in that film was a suffragette.

Holy cow! I totally forgot that part!

Focusing on animation, but nonetheless...I remember really loving that scene even though at the time I had no clue what was going on I don't think.

Holy cow! I totally forgot that part!

Focusing on animation, but nonetheless...

But there was animation in Mary Poppins!  Okay, it was only a few scenes, but still!

Along the same lines, what about Bedknobs and Broomsticks?  Yes, it was a bit of a Mary Poppins knock-off, but Angela Lansbury was definitely her own woman.

I don't think there's been many female Disney characters who have been truly an independent person.  Strong, sure.  But even some mentioned above were still somehow tied to the whims of men - Mulan had to pretend to be a boy to do what she wanted; Belle wanted to leave her "provincial life" but couldn't leave her father; Jasmine wanted to marry by choice, but still went along with her father's wishes.  The only female characters who are truly empowered and strong are the villains.

Yes, it's changed quite a bit since Disney himself died, but I don't think they've got it quite right yet.  Pixar seems to be the only part of Disney (and, yes, I know it's little more than a technicality that they are part of Disney) that doesn't follow the traditional animation themes.

Now that I've bored everyone, I'll stop typing.

Lilo and Lilo's aunt are great! Independent, loving, imaginative, kind, not afraid to be different, secure.

I thought it was Lilo's sister, not aunt? I'm pretty sure the story line is that their parent's died and Nani is her sister.


How about Mulan? She's independent, breaks the "rules" to do the right thing.

Ariel in the Little Mermaid 

The Rescuers.  The girl mouse(can't remember her name) is intelligent and takes the lead.  And the little girl is brave and smart.

Ariel in the Little Mermaid 

That's interesting.  I've never liked Ariel, or the plot of that story.  What makes her seem like a strong character to you?