Stereotypes In Disney Princess Movies

As we all know princesses are a big part of the Disney film industry and they all have something in common, and that is that they are involved in a social problem of feminism. The conflict between the Disney Corporation and the feminist has been going on since the first Disney Princess film in 1937. The majority of the Disney film's audience are children. Disney films have expanded their arsenal to give young people a lesson about ourselves’ ever-changing morals, but they expose the wrong way of being a princess and also can be transmitted as the wrong idea to young people, which is not helping, because of the Disney Industrial’s size or the coverage of their media. For example, Disney has set forth a standard of how all of their princesses are supposed to look like. The portrait of women in Disney films is often the stereotypical version of them; the cultural beliefs of the 1940s are reflected in the roles of the women

The effects of the portrayal of the princesses can be positive or negative. Young girls have become more imaginative by watching Disney films. According to Stephanie Hanes (n.p.), “’For 75 years, millions of little girls and their parents around the world have adored and embraced the diverse characters and rich stories featuring our Disney princesses.... [L]ittle girls experience the fantasy and imagination provided by these stories as a normal part of their childhood development’.” Also, children are encouraged to believe and hope. In most Disney movies, the characters convey the message that we can believe in true love (10 DISNEY MOMENTS THAT PROVE LOVE IS ALIVE AND WELL

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

If the company’s largest seven films are observed, namely the classic Disney princess films, the gender stereotypes become quite apparent. A study done on sex roles of Disney princesses by Dawn Elizabeth England had examined reoccurring similarities in all of the Disney princesses. The first being the physical: these namely address the unrealistic proportions, such as the thin waists, delicate limbs, full breasts and fair skin tones. (Dawn Elizabeth England) These unattainable characteristics may lead young girls into being unsatisfied with their looks and may lead to self-esteem issues. In her book, The Sexualization of Childhood, Sharna Olfman explains the various images Disney princesses convey to children. She argues, “The female ideal is a rich white girl who lives in a big house with servants who do the work” (Olfman 40). This may give young girls the idea that the only way to get noticed or to get attention from the opposite sex is to have effortless beauty and to capture the males heart with looks alone. Young girls are thought that looks should be one of the primary methods through which a woman’s attitude and personality should be rated. This gives a shallow perception of what it takes to actually obtain a spouse. This teaches girls to be superficial and not to depend on their own personalities and mental capabilities in order to be

“ Every time she finds a minute, that's when they begin it, Cinderella ! Cinderella ! Cinderella !” Cinderella, a domesticated woman, a slave to the scrubbing brush, and the kitchen. “ Look at this stuff, isn't it neat ? Wouldn't you think my collections complete ? Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl, the girl who has everything ?” Ariel a girl who sings about all the domesticated items she has collected. “Well it’s my favourite! Far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise.” Belle the girl who reads fairy tales and expects life to be like the stories. These are only three of the many messages these stereotypes are sending young viewers. As a little girl watching these Disney films you want to do anything and everything to become like these princesses. You want the glitz, the

Over the years, Disney has presented many movies to their audience—most having a Princess as the protagonist. These movies became a babysitter for most parents in the early stages of their child’s life. Most people found these movies as relatively harmless. The obvious assumption about the Disney Princesses is that they only desire true love since almost every movie ends in romance. Parents just viewed these movies as romantic movies on a child’s level. However, these movies were not solely intended for an audience of an age that can be counted on both hands. They were intended to speak to “an intelligent and active audience” (Sumera 40). However, there are many people who disagree with the ways of the Disney Princess movies. The

Since the beginning of the Disney princess era in 1937 with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney princess films have been a part of children’s lives for almost a century. According to Robinson, Callister, Magoffin, and Moore, media, specifically television and films present children with images and ideas that may create, alter, or reinforce how they portray stereotypes (203). From the classic Disney princesses such as Snow White and Aurora, to today’s modern princesses such as Elsa, Anna, and Tiana, the roles of Disney princess have changed significantly since the beginning of the franchise. The evolution of gender stereotypes in Disney

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

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.

Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Ariel are all names almost every young female can recall. These are just a few of Disney’s most memorable characters, the “Disney princesses” which are idolized by young girls everywhere. These princesses are portrayed to be strong willed, optimistic, and hardworking women who overcome various hardships throughout their life. Talk about being the perfect role models for little girls everywhere- but are they really? Although they may seem to have admirable qualities, by the end of these Disney movies, each princess receives their happy ending with their “prince charming” at their side. This concludes that happiness is obtained only by finding your “prince charming”. A princess’ “happily ever after”, that is repeated in these iconic Disney movies, distorts what true happiness is and could be for girls around the world. This perceived reality promoted by Disney then becomes engraved in our young girls’ minds through ways that are much like propaganda in the political arena. Propaganda is a form of language commonly used to manipulate intended audiences. In Disney’s case, their intended audience consists of young girls around the world. These Disney films display methods of propaganda, such as doublespeak (Lutz) and the two-extremes fallacy (Cross), which result in our young girls believing in a false reality. There needs to be attention brought about this flawed perception of a sole happiness that is continuously depicted by Disney and shared through ways of propaganda, as it is damaging the minds of our young girls- the future contributors of our society.

We all have different goals in life, my goal has been clearly defined since my toddler years….to be a Disney Princess. So Recently, when I found one of my favorite Disney movies growing up stashed in an old drawer. I decided to watch it for old time’s sake. When I watched it now, however, there were a lot of… innuendos I missed when I was five years old. I also was much more aware of the actual story line, not just the adorable talking animals. I started to see some serious gender issues from our four legged and two legged characters. After it finished, I watched the credits and I noticed that the film crew was male-dominated. I couldn’t find a single female. Many other movies are male dominated when it comes to their characters, and if

In a far far Kingdom, there lived a lovely little girl who would spend hours in front of the TV watching all her favorite movies and shows. Particularly her favorite princess movie Snow White.

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 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