Gender Stereotypes

In the study that makes up a good part of the article by England, Descartes and Collier-Meek, we are shown a numerical conversion of masculine and feminine characteristics exhibited by both the princesses and the princes in the Disney princess movies. The feminine characteristics included things like tends to physical appearance, described as physically attractive, submissive and collapses crying, while the male characteristics included physically strong, assertive, unemotional and brave. They examined each movie individually and found that “The five most common attributes and behaviors portrayed by the princesses [were…]: affectionate, assertive, fearful, troublesome, and athletic.” (560) Three of these behaviors are specifically feminine and typically the assertiveness (a masculine behavior) of the princesses was associated with animals instead of people. Obviously the creators of these movies knew what they were doing when writing the screenplays and giving these characters these reoccurring behaviors. By doing this, they are reinforcing to young girls that this is how girls are supposed to behave. This study also showed that the Disney movies and their gender role portrayals are becoming “more egalitarian over time” (561). The first three princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora) participated in many more feminine behaviors than masculine ones. However,  “the ratio of feminine characteristics exhibited by the princesses decreased over time, with 86% of the princesses’ behavior in the early films coded as feminine, reducing to 58% in the middle movies, and 53% in the most current film” (562). There seems to be a conscious effort being made to make the Disney princesses into more androgynous beings as time goes on; to make them more socially accepted and better role models for young children. This is a respectable change being made but is it too little too late? The gender stereotypes that took center stage in the earlier movies are still included in them and children still watch these movies as much as the newer princess movies. They are still exposed to the injustices that Disney created from the very beginning and see them working in the newer movies as well (just not as extremely as earlier films). Women have been and are still being subjugated by the Disney princess franchise. I’m not sure if the gender stereotypes will ever be completely put to rest by a Disney princess film—if we will ever get a movie about an independent, brave, strong and assertive princess that does not need a prince to maintain her happiness. I can only hope that that is where we are heading for my sake and for my future children as well.