Outlook on Disney Princess’s

Alexa Medrano                                                        October 14, 2014

                                      Outlook on Disney Princess’s

  Some figures that have been very important and influential to young children for years are Disney princesses. Disney princesses is a cornerstone of American childhood, many young girls spend a large amount of their life wanting to be a princess but Disney portrayal of princess make this not seem so desirable. In Disney princesses movies they portray women as having a stereotypical representation of gender, these stereotypes have given young girls misunderstanding about how a women should look and behave. This paper is designed to look into gender identity and gender roles through Disney princesses movies also how media affects particularly young girls, and cultural identity by Disney princesses and Disney Princess body images.

Media

Many young girls are exposed to various Disney princess images that may guide their creation of future of self-images, Disney princesses films through the media view has a great impact on its viewers, the generated images presented in Disney princesses films may ultimately affect young girls paths to self-realization. Young girls are exceedingly impressionable individuals that often seek to discover their identity by observing the media that surrounds their everyday lives. Children often imitate the people they idolize or admire, because Disney princesses are a source of attraction for many young girls they often hold princesses character values to a high esteem. In “ Television Gender Image and Contribution to Stereotyping” an article published in Handbook of children and media, Nancy Signorielli goes into details on how young girls are affected by images in the media. “Viewers, especially children intimate the behavior of television characters in much the same way that they learn social and cognitive skills by imitating their parents, sibling and peers”. (Lefowitz and Huesman 1980) 343. Young girls revere the Disney princesses they associate their identity formation around the gender roles portrayed in films through consistent exposure of the media.  In a article by Deborah L. Schooler and her colleagues investigate how young girls are affected by body images in the media, they state “with its focus on exposure amounts, cultivation theory (Gerbner,Gross, Morgan and Signorelli) argued that repeated exposure leads to a reality as valid. Young girls are exposed to different kinds of body images throughout their daily lives; consistent exposure to idea images in the media can cause them to adopt these images as reality.

Gender Roles Portrayed By Princes and Princesses

Many of the Disney Films often depict female qualities and characteristics behaviors, both male and female characters are portrayed differently in Disney Films indicating distinct ideas about gender, social behavior and norms. In “Image of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature –length Animated Films” Mia Adessa Towbin discuss the portrayal’s of stereotypical roles in Disney films and the various conventional images being exposed to children. They state “Men are depicted as physically aggressive, non-expressive and as heroic saviors, particularly of women. Women are portrayed as beautiful, dependent on men and engaged in domestic responsibilities”. (Towbin 35) These distinct character tics demonstrate highly conventional ideals, socially accepted females are also described as physically attractive and process numerous feminine qualities including skills in domestic responsibilities. According to most Disney Princess films men are stereotyped as the dominant gender role possessing a position of leadership and tremendous strength, In Disney princess film Beauty and the Beast (1991) characteristics gender qualities are depicted. The beast, Gaston an exceedingly arrogant and strong willed character with princess Bell deviation from ideal female characteristics. In the film Bell view as a highly peculiar individual because of her desire to read and her disinterest with Gaston’s pleas for marriage. However his role as a villain in the film may direct many viewers to believe that his ideas of women are wrong. Belle’s feminine and nurturing personality is apparent through her tender care for her father and her later affection for the beast. These depictions on the other hand, expose young girls to traditional images of stereotypical characteristic’s that ideal women are expected to possess. Disney Princess films illustrate ideas of marriage and ideal women’s future lifestyle, as indicated by many films women are taught to aspire to achieve a conviential type of life that results from falling in love with a supportive and wealthy male figure. As Gaston tries to gain Belles hand in marriage he says “ Here picture this, a rustic hunting lodge my latest kill roasting on the fire and my little wife massaging my feet while the little ones play on the floor with the dogs” Beauty and the Beast. Gaston’s description of his ideal marriage life is depicted as the women should wish to attain and be housewife.  Signorelli investigates young girls that are affected by what they see. “ Viewers especially children imitate  the behavior on television  characters in much the same way they learn social and cognitive skills by imitating their parents, siblings, and peers. (Lefkowtiz and Husemann 1980) Children often imitate the people they idolize or admire. Disney princess are a source of attraction for many young girls that often hold princess characters values to a high esteem. In almost every Disney fairytale the princess with minimal effort manages to capture the heart and affection of a handsome and wealthy prince an alternative to that standard deception of love. A young girl may internalize the concept that women are expected to attain love of a male who will provide for her life. In “Sexualizationof Childhood” Sharra Olfman explains images Disney princesses convey to children, she states “ The female ideal is rich white girl who lives in a big house with servants who do work” (Olfam 40) These characteristic images of Disney aspire young girls to become consists of a wealthy home provide by her husband. Deviating from those roles and choosing a different identity may result in unfavorable and detrimental hostility from their peers and society.