Gender Role Portrayal and the Disney Princesses (original) (raw)
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Social Sciences
Previous quantitative research examining Disney movies has highlighted that whilst prince characters display largely balanced gender profiles, princesses exhibit biased gender role portrayals—performing mostly feminine characteristics, rarely participating in rescue behavior, and concluding movies in romantic relationships with the prince. However, such research, as well as public commentary, has also suggested that princess characters in movies released across the 2000s and 2010s may have more positive gender role portrayals. This study aimed to test these assertions by utilizing content coding analysis to examine the behavioral characteristics, rescue behavior, and romantic conclusions of prince and princess characters in five iconic Disney films released between 2009 and 2016 (The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Brave (released under Pixar), Frozen, and Moana). Comparisons were also made with earlier titles to assess historical changes. Results showed that princesses in “2000s to...
The Gender Role Portrayal Of Disney Princesses And Its Impact On The Audience
With the voices from past literature and research, this paper explores areas of Disney princess movies over the decades in terms of the transitional female lead characters and the perceived impact of the said change on the audience in terms of their behavior and decision making. Disney as a global corporation has imposed on the psychological development of children in regards to identity management, gender performance, and racial stereotypes, forming an overall structure society has been reduced to confine in. The primary objective of this study therefore, is to find out how the characterization of gender perception of Disney princesses over the decades has left an impact on the audience and how the transition of Disney princesses and the portrayal of gender roles affect the audience. The research for this study has taken a qualitative approach by conducting interviews of exploratory nature consisting of open-ended question among audiences with the core focus on adolescents. This st...
Damsels in Distress: A Textual Analysis of Gender roles in Disney Princess Films
Abstract: Gender is one of the most discussed topics in today‟s society. Gender represents and also reproduces certain attributes, expectations and roles which are associated with male and female. Media is the most important resource through which people develop their identities and thereby come to understand the role that gender plays in the actual world. This article is designed to study the gender identity and gender roles in Disney movies and to see how identity is transformed through long term virtues and ideals that are set forth by the Disney movies. It is generally regarded that the Disney movies is unhealthy for children, especially the young girls to watch for the physical, social and behavioral attributes they suggest, conform to the values supporting male dominance. Disney movies are often criticized for their negative, stereotypical portrayal of female characters that are often unrealistically painted. In the context of Disney movies, the word „woman‟ has become synonymous with „victim‟ in a patriarchal society. The Disney Corporation films such as Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty et al are in the list of favorite Disney heroines for young girls for the last fifty years. These movies have certain themes in common—the female protagonist in each of these films is shown as a “Disney Princess” but the traits of these princesses, featured through these films are submissiveness and servitude. Though they possess divine beauty, these princesses only seem to be capable of suffering in silence, and it is because of this, they are finally given the ultimate reward: salvation through the handsome Prince Charming. This negative portrayals of women and girls in Disney movies gain force through the way in which similar messages are consistently circulated and reproduced in varying degrees in many of the Disney movies even till today. Though both the male and the female roles have changed over time in the Disney princess line, yet the female characters actually exhibits less change in their gender role portrayals and there is no doubt that Disney Corporation is reaching their target audience and their message is continuously being made available to the young children (especially the young girls) around the world. Keywords: consumerism, feminism, femme fatal, patriarchy, stereotype,
Damsels in Distress An analysis of Gender roles in Disney princess films
2021
Abstract: In today’s society movies have become an integral resource which influence a person’s identity. This paper is designed to study the gender roles and the construction of identity in Disney movies. Earlier researches have suggested that Disney movies are not beneficial for children as they propagate certain male dominant ideas by portraying females in a dependent role .This research analyses two texts notably “Cinderella” and “Aladdin” from two different eras and comes to the conclusion that though the societal framework and the roles have changed over time, yet the female character depiction remains the same. The paper also looks at the impact of this sexism on its target audience and reinstates the responsibilities of movies to project females in an elevated role. This helps them to break free of the structure that already discriminates and marginalizes them. Keywords: feminism, patriarchy, stereotype.
2019
First and foremost, praise to almighty Allah, he who bestowed me with divine blessings and guidance when writing this work. My sincere thanks go to Professor Faiza SENOUCI, my dear respected supervisor, whose advices, kindness, and support paved the way for this work to be fulfilled. Additional heartfelt thanks to you for always believing in me. With deepest gratitude, I share the credit of my dissertation with Ms. Meryem MENGOUSHI. You are the candle light that illuminated my way towards fulfilling this work which would have remained a simple idea without the invaluable help and guidance you provided me with. A special acknowledgement is conveyed to the jury members, the respected teachers Mrs. Souad HAMIDI, as well as Dr. Fatiha BELMERABET. Thank you for accepting to read and examine my thesis. I would also like to express love and gratitude to Dr. Fatima NEBATI and Dr. Wassila MOURO. I consider myself profoundly fortunate that, once upon a time, I was your student. Last but not least, I wish to thank everyone who granted me help and support during the realization of this dissertation.
Children’s perceptions of gender roles as portrayed in Disney films
2016
Researchers have found that young children create and internalize their own meanings of gender, based on the social cues of adults, their environments, and media around them (Derman-Sparks, 2001). The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of gender role portrayals in Disney films on children’s gender role perceptions. It was hypothesised that there would be a significant difference in children’s gender role perceptions depending on the Disney film they watched. The Children’s sex role inventory (CSRI) was given out to a total sample of 51 participants, both male (N= 15) and female (N= 36). Participants were randomly allocated to a group, the experimental group viewed Frozen while the control group viewed Cinderella. Analysis of the data showed that there was a significant difference between children’s perceptions of gender role in relation to the CSRI scale. Results supported the belief that Disney films can “inspire at least as much cultural authority and legitimac...
The cultural construction of the feminine through Disney�s films
EduLite: Journal of English Education, Literature and Culture
The question of gender roles in Disney�s films has been one of the relevant issues in their industry. Disney has for a long time been at battle with the public for being accused of depicting their characters, specifically females, in stereotypical ways. Gender roles can affect viewers in the manner they see themselves with the others around them. The roles of men and women pictured in Disney�s films have mirrored the cultural perspective and beliefs of social norms and expectations on gender roles and identity. This study tries to figure out the roles of the princesses and the female villains in Disney's films with regard to the cultural construction of the feminine. This study applied qualitative� descriptive� method with several steps taken during the data analysis. Finally,� the� analysis� was� informally presented� through� a descriptive representation in words. The findings demonstrate that despite displaying the characteristics of strength and power, female villains are fr...
Between Gender and History: The Feminine and the Masculine in Disney Princess Animated Films
Between Gender and History: The Feminine and the Masculine in Disney Princess Animated Films, 2020
Is the distinction between man and woman natural or is it a social construction? Bordieu (2002), when discussing the differentiation between the sexes, points out that the anatomical opposition between the male and female bodies would have been used to justify and naturalize the different social roles attributed to men and women. When we think about history, an inevitable element over time is always present: transformations. The relationships established between the male and the female are no different. These relations were many until the twentieth century and it is at that moment that changes are perceived concerning the roles assigned to both genders. The aim of this work was to analyze the transformations of the feminine and the masculine in the Disney princess films during the 20 th and early 21 st centuries. The methodology used was bibliographic research, with Bourdieu (2002), Chartier (2002) and Castells (2006) being the main references. Two moments of the representation of the female and the male were observed in the analyzed animations: until the 1960s, an image constructed by the patriarchy predominated; after 1980, one for feminism, enabling a new representation of women and men.
Post-Princess Models of Gender: The New Man in Disney/Pixar
Journal of Popular Film and Television, 2008
Unlike most Disney animated films, which have been criticized for decades for their stereotypical female leads and traditional representations of gender, all the major features released by Disney's Pixar studios since 1990 have featured masculine protagonists. These male plots are remarkably alike, and together, we argue, they indicate a rather progressive postfeminist model of gender. Beginning with alpha-male traits in common, from emotional inaccessibility to keen competitiveness, the stars of these stories follow similar bildungsroman plots. In this article, we chart the pattern of masculine development in three of these films-Cars, Toy Story, and The Incredibles-noting that Pixar consistently promotes a new model of masculinity. From the revelation of the alpha male's flaws, including acute loneliness and vulnerability, to figurative emasculation through even the slightest disempowerment, each character travels through a significant homosocial relationship and ultimately matures into an acceptance of his more traditionally "feminine" aspects.
Hegemony, Gender Stereotypes and Disney: A Content Analysis of Frozen and Snow White
2015
A content analysis was conducted and focused on the gender roles, gender expectations, and social norms in Disney films. The researchers studied one past Disney film, Snow White and compared it with the most recent Disney film, Frozen to draw distinctions and similarities between them. Through a chi square test of association comparing specific Disney roles of both men and women, minimum differences have been shown between past and recent films. Disney has made changes in their films by removing some overt gender stereotypes from the films; however, they continue to use many of these stereotypical gender expectations. The data suggests that hegemonic principles can be applied to the most recent Disney film Frozen. Disney has hidden traditional gender norms under the guise of being progressive while still utilizing the successful Disney formula of traditional gender roles and expectations. PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW OF CONTENT Disney films are very popular and have a great influence in America as well as around the world today. Although Disney films are often perceived as positive, there are many underlying messages in them. Many studies have been conducted on these topics. They analyzed the messages Disney sends to young children regarding their race, age, sexual orientation, and gender. Furthermore, with the advancement of technology of the 21st century, the messages being sent to children were more critical as the distribution of Disney films have expanded to mediums such as DVD's, video games, cell phones, and online gaming. Such mediums allowed Disney to reach children at a pace like never before. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze what recurring themes are shown in the oldest princess Disney film, Snow White and the newest princess Disney film, Frozen. This 2