Misandry and Emasculation in Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Gillam, the author switches up from the common female perspective and shows Disney’s portrayal of the traditional representation of the male gender. A lot of the Disney’s representation of the male gender includes arrogance and competiveness as the main start off with films such as Cars and The Incredibles (Gillam, 2008). However, as the movie progresses Disney begins to open up the male protagonist and display a new model of masculinity—one in which show vulnerability and emotion. Often times in society men are expected to be dominant, emotionless, and tough despite the inaccuracy of the male persona. Gillam uses the example of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast to depict the standards of the male persona (Gillam, 2008). By using the lyrics to the song about Gaston, “No one fights like Gaston. Douses lights like Gaston. In a wrestling match nobody bites like Gaston. For there's no one as burly and brawny. As you see I've got biceps to spare. Not a bit of him's scraggly or scrawny. (That's right!). And ev'ry last inch of me's covered with hair,” we can tell from the lyrics that you have to be like Gaston and have huge muscles and have chest hair—which depicts masculinity. By contrasting with Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles he is shown showing his vulnerability by weeping about his “dead” family when constricted by his enemy. By showing Mr. Incredible as vulnerable this sends the message

Both Beasts are willing to do and give anything for beauty and the girl to keep them happy. Although Beast kept beauty hostage, he is gentleman enough to give her, her own space if she does not want anything to do with him: “you alone are mistress here; you need only bid me gone, if my presence is troublesome, and I will immediately withdraw” (LePrince de Beaumont 6). Beast being kind to Beauty is important because the goal is for her to want to stay with him forever. Since he shows compassion and

In the graphic novel the “beast” is more than just a bull in the sense that it represents many other characteristics, but it is still a beast because it embodies the aggression, violence and fear shown in the boy and also in all of us as individuals. The hostility of the beast is shown through the physical killing

The portrayal of Feminine aspects within Disney movies has been widely criticized, however the way masculinity is portrayed in films is also very controversial but infrequently discussed. My goal for this research paper is to look at two Disney films through a feminist lens and queer lens to decipher any stereotypical aspects of masculinity that are shown within the main characters. I am hopeful to find a film that breaks the norm of having a masculine main character that is hyper masculine like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast or Jaffar from Aladdin. I would also like to analyze the damsel in distress situations in films where the male role seems to always be the heroic figure even when they aren’t the main character in the story. Even though

Seger states that in fairy tales "an old woman, a dwarf, a witch, or a wizard helps the hero . . . The hero achieves the goal because of this help, and because the hero is receptive to what this person has to give" (173). Conversely, Beast is helped by the very damsel he imprisons. Belle is a normal woman, not a witch or a wizard; she has no special powers and is not old or dwarfish in any way. Also, Beast is extremely reluctant to accept any help from her. In the Disney version of the story, Belle tries to teach Beast how to control his temper and be more compassionate and loving. Beast is not receptive at all to this help throughout the story, but still manages to defeat the curse left on him by a self revelation. He decides after Belle's departure from his castle to learn to love and be kindhearted. Although her help may have had an impact on his transformation, it was the mere presence of her and his own self conscience that ultimately helped him conquer his relentless curse. This is quite different from what Seger illustrates in her hero myth theory.

In the movie “Beauty and the Beast”, the role of a man and woman in an abusive relation is practically spelled out and strait from Disney’s female lead jar. Belle is kidnaped by the Beast and forced o live in the dungeon until her father is ripped away from her. During this time she is completely defenseless to the Beasts onslaught and often retreats within herself and rarely confronts him. Beast on the other hand, portraying an abusive male, does everything to a tee. He yells, bangs on doors, throws furniture, and even threatens starvation when Belle goes against him. Belle, being the kind and gentle female lead, looks past all his rage and finds he prince inside; highlighting the common problem in abusive relationships. The abused partner holding onto the hope that their abuser will change, that they will love them and show them the tenderness that used to be there. Women (could also be men) are supposed to take the abuse and wait it out, showing nothing but love while the abuser rampages and eventually, things will be just like the fairy tales.

The Beauty and the Beast starts with a lively music in the castle which immediately set us into action. A castle full of expensive housewares and beautiful ladies wearing white gowns dancing to the music represent perfection. The ball is interrupted by a knock from an unexpected beggar who offered the insensitive prince a rose for shelter. The loud thunderclap and the way the chandelier lights were blown off by the wind intensified the scene. When he refuses, the beggar transformed into an enchantress and changed him into a hideous beast and his servants into housewares. The camera angle which showed the shadow figure of the prince turning to a beast was amazingly done. She casts a spell on the rose and it would only be broken if he could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell. On the other hand, Belle starts the film in a small lively village which implies peacefulness and security. Belle is a simple, creative girl wanting to leave her monotonous village life to explore new things and go to an adventure. This came true when her horse Philippe went home anxiously without Maurice, her father. The way the horse neighed repeatedly implied that something is wrong. Belle, without hesitation, stormed off to the castle where her father was imprisoned and took his place as

Sometimes spending time alone, and away from the ordinary is the best form of emotional therapy. Moving onto Belle's costar, the Beast, viewers of the film cannot help but see the drastic character development which occurs. Right from the beginning, the Beast is spoken of very poorly, as a result of his self-righteous attitude toward the world. Due to his unkind behaviour, a witch casts a spell on him, which morphs him into his monstrous form. His human form would be his to hold again, as long as he could change his ways, and have someone fall in love with him. The Beast wastes no time in throwing a fit, and eventually disappears into despair; however, once Belle enters his life, the disgruntled prince makes an effort to change his ways, if only to earn her affections. Both Belle and the Beast learn from one another, which I think makes their relationship that much more meaningful. Not only do they fall in love, but they truly care for the development of one another, and are determined to change themselves for the better in order to be

These roles of female characters are not only present in The Beauty and The Beast. Many other Disney films like Cinderella and Snow white exemplify the stereotypical

Referring back to fairytales like Beauty and the Beast film which involves the beast who magically got turned into a beast as a disciplining act because of his selfishness. Then a beautiful young women by the name of Belle, got imprisoned in the castle. The beast is very fond of Belle since he first laid eyes on her. During the movie Belle being the catalyst for the Beast’s need of wanting to change. But he distances himself from her because he has two mindsets. Which is a man and the other is a raging beast. The beast is going through trying to

“Beauty and The Beast” is a classic well known romantic Disney movie that depicts the gender role of men and women in society. The film is based upon a smart young female protagonist named Belle who is imprisoned by a self-centered young prince after he has been turned into a beast. They both learn to love each other in the end and throughout the film there are several examples shown portraying the roles of gender. In the film the main characters Gaston and the Beast portray themselves as rude, conceited and more important than the woman even though the main character Belle is a woman whom is considered odd, yet smart, and unrelated to most women in society.

Beauty and the Beast is another film with questionable morals. Despite a sixty year time span between the two films, gender relations changed very little. Though the main characters come off as slightly more rounded, there are still some eerie instances that should be addressed. Belle is (yet again) a stunning young woman who is revered throughout for her

The beast is described as this dreadful monster, the epitome of a masculine figure. He is a provider for beauty and her family and is therefore suppose to be seen as a dominant figure in the story. In the book Go! Be A Beast: Beauty and the Beast written by Marina Warner, Warner says “Beauty stand in need of the Beast, rather than vice versa, and the Beast beastliness is good, even adorable''(Warner 416). By the end of the story it is realize that the Beast is really dependent on Beauty and not vice versa. Without Beauty acceptance and true love kiss, the beast isn’t able to become the handsome guy he truly is. Therefore the beast would be left to live a life of

What’s important to understand is that the characters that Walt Disney created over the years, for example Mickey Mouse became icons, which had a lot of cultural significance, especially with children. The characters and their stereotypical body images, mannerisms, and behaviors were merely aspects of Walt Disney’s biased and vivid imagination and did not accurately reflect society or the culture for which they were created, but intern negatively influence his audience. Obviously, Wald Disney did not create the stereotypes, but it was the use of those stereotypes in his films that gave children the wrong impressions, specifically regarding gender roles or what it means to be a male and societies expectations of men.

All over the world Feminism is a current topic of concern and there are very few advocates who are currently fighting for gender equality. In the media men and women are attempting to use their voices to fight for equal rights and get the message across to all generations. In this paper, I will be analyzing the movie Beauty and the Beast (2017) by drawing upon the feminist theory, which will demonstrate how the main female character, Belle challenges the modern-day system of inequality and the socially constructed gender roles. I will do so by examining why Emma Watson was chosen as the leading actress, how Belle is different than the other women in her town, the modifications from the original movie, and how Belle ultimately gets to decide her destiny. I will also consider why some people may view the film as anti-feminist, which will allow for me to understand a different perspective. It is my thesis that socially constructed gender identities are negatively presented in popular culture, however actors and actresses are attempting to use their influence to make an impact and move towards equality.