MaidofOrleans Interesting idea! I especially like the theory about the Evil Queen.

MadameLee thanks..I know a lot about history and this makes better sense in my mind then the in-story reason if there's is one

laylastepford I think the Evil Queen and Snow reason is dead on. With Lady Tremaine, I think the given reasons from the movie make perfect sense. She was a cruel and jealous woman who was envious that Cinderella was more beautiful and charming than her own daughters. Women are more willing to take in step-children then men but most still don't prefer it. She married Cinderella's father knowing he had good money and she wanted it and didn't want to share it with some girl who was just in the way, in her opinion. Cinderella was kind of my real life. I actually did have a stepmom and 2 half-sisters who were just like Lady Tremaine and her daughters almost to a tee. It was horrible and I reminded my stepmom of my mother who came before her. I believe Cinderella reminded Lady Tremaine that she had to share and she didn't like that. (Also Lady Tremaine had to be reminded that she was a second wife, not a first wife so she knew Cinderella's father most likely didn't love her as much as he loved Cinderella's mother.)

MadameLee @Layla but I still have a point in the 2nd one. Since according to Taming of the Shrew story..(and maybe others-I don't know) the older daughters always had to get married first.