BECOMING A PRINCESS:Disney Films & Stereotyping

Link to Beauty and the Beast

Beauty & The Beast

• Belle’s obsession with books causes her to be labeled as the “strange” girl in town• The typical male character wants to marry

Belle, as long as she stops thinking

• Disney altered the book by taking the original gentle and kind Beast and turning him into a violent and uncontrollable monster• This change shows that women are

responsible for controlling male anger and violence

• Would the opposite ever happen – Handsome & The Beast?

Snow White• Her only emphasized qualities throughout the

entire movie are her appearance and housekeeping skills• The evil queen is jealous of her because Snow White is

the “fairest one of all”• The evil queen will stop at nothing to be beautiful,

shows women as vain and ruthless• The only reason the hunter spares her life is because she

is too pretty to kill

• In the movie, Snow White helplessly awaits his kiss while trapped in a death-like slumber• The prince becomes a hero, and is depicted as the only

means for the female character to live• This places a significant emphasis on a man’s role in a

female’s life – she cannot live without him

The Little Mermaid

• Ariel traded her voice for legs so that she could be with Eric, and even then she cannot truly fulfill her desire to remain human with out the help of Eric, the dominant male• The message being presented to young girls is that they should sacrifice in

order to achieve the perfect body since, after all, that is their most important attribute

• The movie also teaches one of the most dangerous messages of our society: you have to be thin to be pretty• The only other main female character in the movie, Ursula, is characterized

as a shapely, ugly and evil villain

Impact on Children

• Do you think that Disney movies have an impact on young girls? Boys?

• Do you think our consumer culture gives in to Disney’s influence?

• How do parents reinforce these stereotypes when raising their children?

DO THESE CLASSIC DISNEY STEREOTYPES (MADE FOR

CHILDREN) CHANGE FOR ADULT MOVIES?

Stereotypes: Women

• SuperMom: only focused on motherhood and taking care of the home, is easily stressed, usually has a bumbling husband

• The Vulnerable Female: dependent on men for survival, naïve in ways of the world

• Working Woman: seen as cold-hearted, detached, disliked by most, only focused on a career

• Can you think of any other common stereotypes?

Stereotypes: Men

• The Joker: men cannot be serious, should not be serious or emotional; may not be attractive but women still adore

• The Jock: must fight other men when necessary; must be aggressive and avoid being soft; wins approval of other men and adoration of women

• The Buffon: bungling father figure; inept when it comes to parenting or housework, always lovable

• Can you think of any other common stereotypes?

Stereotyping: Race

Stereotyping: Age

Stereotyping: Gay / Lesbian

Stereotyping: Intelligence

Objectification in Advertising

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/10/07/the-pornification-of-a-generation.html

Discussion

• Do you think these types of ads can actually influence violence against women?

• Do you think these ads objectify women? Men? Or do people get too upset over nothing…

• Why would advertisers make these types of advertisements?

• Should these types of advertisements be allowed?

Advertisements:Reinforcing Gender Stereotypes?

“I Love Lucy” episode – “Job Switching”

"Job Switching"

How do TV shows depict gender roles today? Are there any similar stereotypes?

What do these “Milk” ads say about women? Men?

Can you think of any other commercials/ads that stereotype men & women this way?

According to Vogue, GQ, and Glamour, what type of body should a man have? Woman?

What makes a man sexy? A woman?

19

50

s

Present

From the 1950s to today, what do these ads say will make a woman happy?