Women 's Role Models For Young Children

Disney films are more than just magical fairytales. They are gateways back into our childhoods where dragons needed to be defeated and where fairy godmothers granted our deepest desires. These magical films also encourages little girls to feel confident about themselves.

Not only do Disney princesses result in bad self esteem, they also encourage passiveness and reliance on others. The feminine and vulnerable side of these princesses, reflect the reliance on their hero and true love. The Disney princess stereotype insinuates that girls should be sweet and submissive, and should fully rely on a male-counterpart. Conversely, new characters, such as Elsa (Frozen), Rapunzel (Tangled), and Merida (Brave), do not express this passive characteristic. At the same time, these princesses continue to need assistance to reach the desired solution. For instance, Princess Rapunzel still needed hero Flynn Rider, in order to navigate her to her parents throughout the movie. None of these princesses independently found a solution to the main conflict in any of these Disney films.

According to an article, “In fact, a 2009 experiment conducted by Professor Hayes and Professor Tantleff-Dunn revealed ‘that a third of girls under the age of six admit to worrying about being fat, and when asked to select the ‘real princess’ from a choice of ballerinas, 50% of the girls chose the thinnest one’.” (Body Image n.p.) Also, Disney films’ portrayal of the stereotypical body image negatively impacts young girls’ perception on their figure. This leads to them believing that the ideal woman is skinny-perfect, as shown by the Disney female characters; thus, their thinking becomes “[…] thin is the only acceptable type of beauty.” (Body Image n.p.). In another study, it said on how young girls wanted to change their skin color preferably lighter in order to become a princess (Mckinstry n.p.). There were also young girls who wanted to become a princess by dressing femininely. Disney have made a collaboration with Happy Skin to come p with a new lip collection in order for people to use and look like a Disney princess (Afinidad-Bernardo n.p.). According to a study, “Women are helpless and in need of protection.” (Towbin, et al 31) In Disney films, Snow White, Aurora and, Cinderella portrayed that they had to be saved by their male counterpart which gives off the message that women have to be saved by men (Johnson 15-16). Due to this portrayal

Disney princesses are fun for all ages, but their target audience is young children and “as children grow and develop, they can be easily influenced by what they see and hear”. Therefore, what they see and hear in Disney movies leaves an impression on them. The first princess, Snow White, was created in a time where each gender and race had a specific role in society. Recently, many believe that Disney has come a long way in regards to gender and race since Snow White, as several multi-cultural protagonists have been introduced subsequently, and gender roles do not appear to be as stereotypical as they once were. However, many of the apparent innocent messages about race and gender in these movies, can be exposed as otherwise. Despite

Characters of Walt Disney Animation Studio movies have become beloved all over the world since releasing its full-length animated feature film Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs in 1937, and all the way to the musical fantasy-adventure film, Moana. Young or children at heart, Disney has hit the hearts of many across the world but is there more behind the classic stories of Cinderella, Belle, and Mulan than first thought. As for the development of Disney female leads, Walt and his animators looked for stories to tell, from fables, fairy tales, legends, to the universal realities that can be found there. As the part of women has lengthened and altered, particularly in the twentieth century and now the twenty-first century, the stories are tending

Heroes are found everywhere when Disney is involved. From a prince or princess to secretive toys to the smallest forms of life on earth, a hero can be found in anyone. Being attached to one or a few is entirely common. These certain characters may be the ones they look up to. Young girls often choose to look up to a princess, although, they are not what they were over 50 years ago. The very first Disney princess, Snow White, is purely a damsel in distress. The same goes for Aurora who appeared in Sleeping Beauty years later. As the years have gone on, that weaker vision of a princess has faded. The modern day princesses are anything but damsels needing to be saved by a man. Rapunzel chooses to give up her freedom in order to save Flynn Rider’s life. Tiana works hard to provide for herself so she can chase her dream. Merida rejects what everyone else thinks she should be and is true to herself. Elsa only needs the love from her sister. This list will only get bigger as Disney continues to create these young female heroines. If anything, Disney is preaching to young girls everywhere to be strong in a world that may play on their faults or weaknesses. During a time strong feminist movements, Disney manages to satisfy demands by allowing the girl to be the hero. Though Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are still timeless classics, the princesses of today set a better example for young girls everywhere and that is why they seem to be more attractive than the originals.

Times are changing and Women are focusing more on achievements than looks. When that is happening in the real world in order to encourage young girl that is what has to happen in movies. According to The Washington Post “Women are more likely to be praised for their skills or achievements than their looks” (22). Now that in Disney Movies women are focusing less and less on there looks Disney is showing Girls that they are

The first Disney princess is Snow White. She is in the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; which aired in 1937. The Movie is about a Young beautiful princess who is sent in the forest to be killed, orders by her evil mother, the queen, because she is unhappy that she isn’t the “fairest in the land”. While wandering in the forest she finds the seven dwarfs’ home, after she is released from the huntsman who was sent to kill her. Once the dwarfs arrive home the realize that a stranger is in their home and find Snow White then she explains to them what has happened and they agree to let her stay under the condition of, “If you will keep house for us, and cook, make beds, wash, sew, and knit, and keep everything that you want,” they

“The idea that animation is an innocent medium, ostensibly for children, and largely dismissed in film histories, has done much to inhibit the proper discussion of issues concerning representation.” (Wells 1998: 187) Animated children’s films, especially those created by Disney, have been an important aspect of children’s culture for many decades. When we consider Disney, we consider Princesses and Princes. In any case, it is acknowledged that those Princesses are included in a clothes to the newfound wealth story. Even though female characters may have more screen time, in most Disney movies we don't see the female characters prevailing over the males, regarding their societal position and practices, except in the lion king.

Disney has “played a major contribution in forming the sexual role concept of child, and in suggesting to them the limitations that are imposed by sex upon a person’s chances of success in various endeavors” (Marcia R. Lieberman, Page 2 Paragraph 8). Disney provides a perfect thin princess, in which young girls want to aspire to look like one day. Creating an image that if a woman wants her prince charming thats how one must look like in order to get their happily ever after. The original Disney princess films such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, or Sleeping Beauty, gives society a sense of the “natural” components one must have to attract a man. Despite Mulan, a women, being the hero in one of the newer Disney princess storyline, society still needs her to play and dress the part of a man in our for society’s brain to properly process it.

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.

Cramped in a small Los Angeles office, Walt Disney drew a few larger than life cartoons. After Disney’s big hit Alice Comedies and cartoons of Mickey and the gang, he moved his office to Burbank, California. There, Walt and his brother, Roy, came up with their most famous movies such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland. Now with two American amusement parks, three international parks, multiple cruise lines, multiple resorts, over five hundred films, and over thirty academy award, it’s hard to not heard of Disney. Every boy or girl has at least seen or heard of Disney movies. It’s such a big part of society today that it becomes influential in a kid’s childhood. This project will look at the underlying effect of the Disney princess phenomenon and how it shapes a young girls’ perspective of herself and how she’s “supposed” to be.

Growing up as a 90’s child, Disney films played an important role in my childhood. As a female viewer, Disney princesses played a bigger role in deciding which Disney films to watch. As the years went on, new Disney princesses were introduced with different styles compared to the traditional Disney princesses. A traditional Disney princess can be defined as one of the first princesses Walt Disney created, specifically during the 20th century, and the newer princesses can be defined as the princesses Disney created in the 21st century. Although Disney continues to create princesses, the roles and views of the newer princesses in Disney movies have changed, as they are seen as more independent, adventurous, and unfocused on finding their prince charming, compared to the older traditional Disney princess films. In this essay, I will be comparing a traditional princess, Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with one of the recent princesses Disney has introduced in recent years, Anna and Elsa from Frozen.

I dug into a study that shows the different effects that Disney princesses play in the lives of children. This study focuses on body image, gender roles, and the portrayal of love. The author focuses on three different eras of princesses: the first era covers Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Cinderella (1950), and Sleeping Beauty (1959); the second era covers The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), Pocahontas (1995), and Mulan (1998); and the most recent era covers The Princess and the Frog (2009), Tangled (2010), Brave (2011), and Frozen (2013) (England et. al., 2011). The first era princesses display compliancy toward traditional female gender roles and stereotypical beauty, such as a petite body and pretty face. As time has gone on princesses are becoming more egalitarian, heroic, and athletic. Although Disney shows changes in their independence, princesses continue to acquire beauty and have become more sexualized. In the second era of princesses we see that they possess a provocative look and still find their happily ever after with a prince (England et al., 2011).

The next wave of Disney’s princess films were produced in the era when feminist ideals were starting to take notice. These princesses began showing positive characteristics. They were becoming more of the types of role models that girls needed. These princesses were more independent and started taking control of their lives. They were strong, smart, and focussed on their goal. The princess films that fit this description are Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Mulan. Belle, the princess from Beauty and the Beast, is the first princess to show a change in characteristics. Belle lives with her father and are both viewed as strange and different because of their love for knowledge. When Belle’s father goes missing she goes after him and when she discovers he is being held captive by the beast in his castle, she takes his place. She changes the beast and ends up falling in love with him despite his outer appearance. Belle became one of the first princess role models, because she was smart, selfless, and brave. Despite how people viewed her and talked about her Belle showed that it was great to be different and that girls can be smart too. When her father was sick and in danger, she did not hesitate to take his place. She showed selflessness and bravery by staying with the Beast. Not long after Beauty and the Beast, Disney released the film Aladdin. Aladdin features the independent, determined, and strong princess named Jasmine. Jasmine is the princess of Agrabah who is being forced to find a husband. When Jasmine sneaks out of the palace she meets the “street rat” named Aladdin. Aladdin uses Genie to make himself appear as a prince to win the heart of Jasmine. After her kingdom is taken over by Jafar, Jasmine is saved by Aladdin and they get married. Jasmine is saved by a man, but she puts up a fight. Jasmine was determined to marry for love, not for status and she did just that. By marrying Aladdin she showed how determined she could be and with her strength could overcome the strifes she faced (Davis). Another strong, brave, and determined princess is Mulan. Mulan could not fit the outline of a perfect wife no matter how hard her family tried. When her country falls under attack Mulan’s father is called to war.