Disney 's Influence On Young Girls Gender Role And Self Esteem

* Children spend more time learning about life through media than in any other manner. The average child spends approximately 28 hours a week watching television, which is twice as much time as they spend in school. (3)

Human beings consume media every day. Nostalgically, we remember watching many television shows and movies— some of those were of the Disney variety. Whether you watched or still watch those movies, you are familiar with the catchy songs, funny and memorable scenes. But, if you step out of that box you will also see a lot of the Disney movies, more specifically the Disney’s princesses’ ones, have hidden gender roles and represent the women in a certain way over the course of decades of princesses. The misrepresentation of women by implementing gender roles, which is defined as “how we’re expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon our assigned sex,” and stereotypes, which is defined as “a widely accepted judgment or bias about a person or group — even though it’s overly simplified and not always accurate,” though subliminal, can be seen in those children’s movies, (Planned Parenthood 2017). Though, there is proof that these princesses have evolved from their damsels-in-distress personas to the independent, ambitious women, and proof that the misrepresentation of women being damsels, who need a man’s help because they are inferior— or they are content with the role of being a cooking, cleaning, house wife, or created as the outcast for being ambitious— still exists, the topic of how Disney presents women is more complex than what it seems.

Throughout the last few years there has been a discussion on how Disney Princesses have a negative impact on young girls and their expectations on what lies in their future. Many Disney princess classics, although they are entertaining, send bad messages to young girls and often teach that their worth is more about beauty and less about their intelligence. The “ Disney princess effect” has impacted the way young girls grow and how they look upon their future and happy ending.

Television can affect learning and school performance if it exceeds the time kids need for their crucial for healthy physical and mental development. Most of children's free time, especially during the early development years, should be spent in activities such as playing, reading, exploring nature, learning about music or participating in sports. Research has shown that children's exposure to television during the preschool years is predictive of academic outcomes during adolescence. The most notable lesson about this

Because of Disney’s stereotyping of gender, that little girl grew up wanting to become a perfect princess. Princesses in Disney’s movies and films gives young girls unrealistic ideas of the real word. However, some may believe that Disney princesses are a good influence on young girls and are able to show a them how to act eloquently. Gender roles, eloquence, and the beauty of the princesses are all topics that influence young girls. Even though some might believe that princesses are good role models for their child, princesses show young girls how they should interact around boys and other girls never mind the girls own opinions. An article about Children’s Responses to Gender Roles in Fairy-Tales written by Ella Westland writes, “The girls

The Walt Disney Company is a diversified international entertainment company (Disney, 2010) with ownership of many media outlets including radio, cinema, television and literature as well as consumer products such as stationary and toys. The Disney brand has huge recognition globally especially in the category of children’s entertainment with over 80 years of productions in this sector. With an obvious predominance and market leadership in children’s entertainment and consumerism, The Disney Company has an unparalleled capability to reach

By doing so, Disney princess culture increases gender roles and affects how young girls view themselves.

Disney was named the world's second top media company in the US for the year 2004. They have produced over 44 “classics” and are one of the most recognized names in animated film (Peterson).We expose young girls to these animated films at a very young age, yet doing so does not seem to be good for these children. Disney’s movies are littered with a virtually unattainable image of what a woman should look like and feeding such images to girls at a young age is wrong and causes low self esteem and poor body image.

Globalization is forcing all companies, large and small, to focus on a larger competitive landscape. For many companies hypercompetition arises and they are left with stunted growth while competing with other businesses across the globe. Fortunately, Disney has constructed one of the world’s most recognizable and beloved brands in the entire world. To understand the external environment in which Disney competes, we must first discern which market we wish to analyze. Disney owns a plethora of companies across an extensive list of industries including publishing, game production, retail, theme parks, and software. By far the two largest segments of Disney’s business are its parks/resorts and media networks; those will be

The authors stressed the consideration of the gendered characteristics analyzed within the larger scripts of the films to better understand some of the messages viewed by children. For example, domestic work was key theme to be scrutinized in Disney Princess movies. The first three princesses were shown doing domestic work on many occasions. The men in the movies never did domestic work because women were the ones who cooked and cleaned. Over the years, it is argued that this genre of film has widened the gender roles and exposes children to more balanced gender role portrayals.

For decades now, Disney Corporation has been providing us with countless films made to delight and amuse children and adults alike. But not all Disney films seem particularly appropriate for their target audience. Many of these films portray violence, gender inequality, and skewed views of leadership roles that seem altogether inappropriate for impressionable young children. Better and more contemporary heroines need to be added to Disney’s wall of princesses in order to counteract years of sexism.

What young girl does not dream of becoming a princess and living in a castle happily ever after? Virtually every young girl identifies with princesses and has watched at least one Disney Princess movie. From the first movies of Snow White and Cinderella, to the later movies of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, to the most current movie Moana, Disney Princess movies permeate not only the movie theaters, but also our culture. In fact, “becoming a princess is as easy as purchasing a tiara and hosting a princess-themed birthday party or buying a Halloween costume and playing pretend” (Garabedian, 2014, p. 23). Nonetheless, as declared by Princess Merida in the movie Brave, “there comes a day when I don’t have to be a princess. No rules, no expectations. A day where anything can happen. A day where I can change my fate” (Andrews & Chapman, 2012). In other words, does the life of a princess measure up to the expectations of little girls everywhere? The Disney Princess brand has grown incredibly popular, especially with young girls. In spite of this, the franchise has also become extremely controversial due to potential gender stereotypes in the films. “Gender is one of the most discussed topics in today’s society…[it] represents and also reproduces certain attributes, expectations and roles which are associated with male and female…influencing the views and opinions of future generations” (Maity, 2014, p. 31). Yet, is the Disney Princess brand harmful to young children due to gender stereotypes? Two essays that contemplate the Disney Princess brand and gender stereotypes with opposite viewpoints on this controversial issue are “Girls on Film: The Real Problem with the Disney Princess Brand” by writer Monika Bartyzel and “In Defense of Princess Culture” by writer and mother Crystal Liechty. However, Liechty’s essay “In Defense of Princess Culture,” is the most effective article in convincing the audience of her point of view due to the claim, support, warrant, language, and vocabulary employed.

Disney movies bring a rush of joy, imagination, and excitement within little children whenever Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and/or Snow White pops up on the screen. The bright colors and exciting story makes them want to watch Disney movies again and again. Their dreams circle around finding their own prince charming and living happily ever after. Disney send lovely messages within their movies implying to never give up on one’s dreams, but if one analyzes these movies on a deeper level a few concepts come into play, misogyny, and patriarchy.

Disney is one of the most successful and largest companies in the world. They have their hand in nearly every form of entertainment as well as media, and broadcasting. Disney is best known for their animated films, unique cartoon characters, catchy musicals, and fairy tales that most of us were first introduced to as children. They are one of the few entertainment companies in the World whose primary demographic is children and teens. Nearly everybody is familiar with the Disney name and its brand, and its realistic to suggest that nearly everybody has experienced a Disney film and animated character at some point in their lives; which may have helped to influence them or their behaviors or even their

Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into film production, television, and theme parks. In this essay will particular focus on the changing of gender role in the film production of Disney Company. In the early ages of Disney’s film, generally speaking, the gender role of women characters in the movie is passive. Male characters have been more prominent and portrayed as more they are more likely to have a recognizable job, more independent, athletic, important, and stronger than female characters. For example, according to the timeline of Walt Disney Picture Film (Disney), Snow White and The Seven Dwarves (1937) is the first animated feature length film produced by Disney. In this movie, Snow White is a dominant character and only relying on the princess to save her. Furthermore, the similar trend can be found in Cinderella (1950) and Sleeping Beauty (1959) as well. Prince is the leading role of the story line and princess or women characters in these early films all are subsidiary. However, this circumstance has been changed in the 1980s because the rise of Feminism in America. The release of The Little Mermaid (1989) means that the traditional princess roles are no longer exists. The gender role of the princess in this film is rebellious and ambitious and she finding success herself instead of