lack of moms in disney cartoons

When I read this my mouth flew open.I had to laugh.You are right!I have never thought about it that much.And the mothers that are in some of the stories are ugly step mothers.I wonder why my self?Mothers play an important role in family life.Since Disney is so family friendly and all of the movie are directed toward family viewing they should show a positive loving mother figure...Good point!Thanks for the thought...

I guess the lack of moms in Disney animations add to the flavor of the story. Moms represent care, love, and a nurturing environment. Without moms in the story, it would show that even the main characters are not perfect. They are real and they also experience hardships. Having no moms in these films add an effect to the story. It makes it appear that the characters are moving in the real world facing real problems. Having no moms cultivate the effect of giving the story a realistic feel and the same time adds color and a bit of a hidden plot and conflict in the story. Oh well, there goes my training in psychology. It's just my two cents worth.

It's interesting. I had noticed it here and there, but not collectively, like you have posted here.

I can't imagine why. I had thought that it was because, so often mom's would die in childbirth (older times it happened more often), and that perhaps that was the case for this movie or that movie.

But, now that you mention it, there IS a pattern there.

Even in the Barbie movies, you often don't see a mom.

Perhaps, like the other response to this, the symbolism of a mother is lacking, because mothers are the caring, nurterers (sp?) and make everything 'alright'. I know my life would have been he** if my mom wasn't there to take care of me and intervene when I made dad upset.

Thanks for letting me share!

Joy

In Cinderella and Snow White, the mother is missing in the original stories. And, it's basically what other people here have said. And, characters in stories need obstacles to overcome, and it helps if the characters don't have a mother to turn to. Kind of ups the "me and just a few fuzzy/short/fishy/inanimate friends against the world." Disney could imagine a father being scatterbrained or distant and pretty much out of the picture even when they're still around, but can't imagine a mother being that way. So, they get rid of her.