Gender Stereotypes : Are Disney Princesses Harmful? Young Girls?

I thought this source gave many verifiable points, but I believe that the author should have included other people’s viewpoints about gender roles instead of keeping it as a one-sided conversation based on the author’s beliefs. This article describes how the Disney Princesses have evolved since Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Sleeping Beauty to Brave and Frozen (Nusair). Traditionally speaking, these princesses were written as these helpless and passive women that was always in dire need of the help of their prince to come rescue them from their troubles. In today’s Disney Princess movies, the characters are meant to be self-reliant and strong just as any other character within the town. As you can tell, this is vastly different than eighty years ago when these movies first depicted their stories. According to David Nusair, who graduated with a degree in Film Studies and in Journalism writes movie-related articles for numerous publishers, stated “…Disney unleashed their most independent and downright fierce princess to date in nineteen ninety-five with the release of Pocahontas. In addition to fighting side-by-side with her male counterparts, she even plays a pivotal role in saving the life of the man she loves…” (Nusair). In other words, this is quite the turnaround from what we are normally used to from these

Young girls that are inspired to have this "Disney princess effect" are not growing up to be strong, independent women that are motivated to change something in the world. In many of the Disney princess movies for example, The 1991 film, Beauty and the Beast, shows how women are not supposed to be intelligent, but should focus on fulfilling a man's needs. This has an impact on how a girl views her female position in the world.

Little girls are seen as the opposite of boys. They want to be involved in things their mothers do. Some enjoy playing with dolls, or makeup. Since they are “feminine”, girls are believed to wear dresses. They are drawn to princesses instead of superheroes, because the qualities of princesses include beauty, grace, and kindness.

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 Disney princess movies have a typical female body that they use in every Disney movie. According to Rachael Michelle Johnson, “The classic Disney princesses depict the societal Western standards of beauty such as thin, graceful, young, and attractive to romantic suitors of the opposite sex.”(Rachael Michelle Johnson) Furthermore, the ideal concept of beauty is preserved through princesses having “extremely pale skin tones, small waists, delicate limbs, and full breasts,” (England et al., 2011, p.556) This stereotype teaches children that girls and women are only beautiful if they have these characteristics, and if they don’t then they are automatically considered ugly. Young children learn a lot from the media, when they see

In our modern society parents want to know who the best role models are for their children; especially parents of young girls. Most girls are introduced to Disney Princesses at a young age, but what most parents don’t know is that not all Disney Princesses are positive role models of modern society. The princesses were amazing role models for their time but since then many opinions have changed on what is expected of women and what is not some; people in society today can argue weather certain qualities that the princesses posses are acceptable for today’s youth. The most famous princesses are the “Original Disney Princesses” :(in chronological order) Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, and Mulan.

As of lately, princesses have been under heat for teaching young girls to rely on men for everything, which I don’t see the connection. The examples that are used the most are Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora/sleeping beauty; they were made in the 50’s. Yes, they all waited for a man to save them but the moral of the story was that if you dream and you are kind to everyone, your dreams will come true; I think that lesson shines through to kids the most.

Love them or hate them Disney princess movies, time and time again inspire little girls to want to be just like them. So many people criticize these movies and say they aren’t the best influence on little girls. Why do people criticize these movies so much? These movies have a very inspirational narrative for young girls. Every Disney Princess movie is telling a consensus narrative using a variety of cultures, of young girls coming of age.

Big eyes and beautiful dresses. Little girls all over the world look up to these so called ideal women. Disney princesses have had a significant impact on young girls from day one, but is this really a good thing? Disney princesses are such bad examples to little girls, for reasons such as, body image, dependence on men, use of black magic, and their overall character. From the moment Disney princesses are viewed, girls self esteems are lowered.

This is the main factor future Disney princess movies pushed back against. As Marcia Lieberman stated in her critical analysis of the lessons women in fairytales teach young readers, “Cinderella, the Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White are mythic figures who have replaced the old Greek and Norse gods, goddesses, and heroes for most children” (Lieberman 384). These princesses have become worshipped by society and yet they show no real control over their own lives and seem to only be framed as damsels waiting to be saved, no matter the true intentions of the writers. Society remembers these women as getting their happily ever afters because of their beauty alone. Not only did future princesses work for their happy endings, the modern princesses had to go through tremendous amounts of personal and emotional growth to get what they wanted, though it is still apparent that some happy endings were thrown in to make sure everything return to the status

As children, we have grown up watching classic movies, most likely Disney movies. As we grew up, we have come to know that boys have to brave and courageous, while girls have to be rescued or are weak. Disney movies have influenced children’s mind with stereotypes, are Disney princesses really great role models for young girls? Should young boys be “manly” or “strong” like a prince? Personally, I believe that they are not great models, the movies are a representations of how women or men should act or behave like in the past, for example, the story of Cinderella.

As a result, many young American girls start becoming influenced by these visually appealing Disney Princesses, and it usually does not end well. For example, some of them may try to look or act feminine in hopes of becoming what they want to be, a princess. Still, there are some people who believe that Disney Princess films do not present stereotypical gender roles, but rather they develop the mindset of young girls by teaching them to become people with good moral character. However, Disney Princess films do negatively impact young American girls and the culture around them through the way the princesses are illustrated, how they portray femininity, and because of the mindset that Disney Princesses

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.

influences around them. The role models would impart on the young girls the necessary standards to compare themselves to learn their intrinsic worth and fight the opinion that women are inferior to men. Many times they look to the media for such influences. Disney princesses have for decades been the representation little girls see; however, not all of them are positive. The Disney Princess brand is broken down into three generations, or waves. The first generation, including Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora, perpetuate sexism because they teach young girls that their value lies in their beauty and their relationship with a man. The second wave

There are some concerns with body-esteem in young girls. As the princesses are showed pretty, slim, and with a small waist. Researchers talked to both parents and children to assess what types of influences exposure to princess culture may have. They did find a link between young girls watching more princess media, identifying with princesses, and playing with princess toys over a year, and higher levels of female gender stereotypical behavior, but could not link it with self-esteem (SNS, Pg.1). Princess exposure was not associated with poor body image in girls, however in was affecting the boys. They identified with the various dashing young male leads. As my brother did not identify with the various roles of princes, he was more the cars, dirt bikes, and dump trucks type of boy. He would make me play his kind of games instead of playing princesses with me.