DATA AND METHODS
Current Study The purpose of this study is to investigate the depiction of beauty in animated Disney princess films and measure the consequences that the portrayal of beauty has on young girl’s individual self-esteem levels. The hypothesis of this study, states that young girls who idolize the beauty standards of Disney princesses will have lower self-esteem levels than young girls who do not idolize Disney princesses standard of beauty. I expected that young girls who have the desire to mimic Disney princesses would have lower self-esteem levels because the beauty standards of Disney princess are impossible to obtain; therefore, their perception of beauty will become extremely faltered, which will lead to a decrease in their …show more content…
al study (2010), the researchers assessed whether children a single exposure to animated Disney films stereotypical portrayals of characters or non-stereotypical portrayals of the physical attractiveness stereotype influence children, and if the physical attractiveness stereotype is present in animated Disney films. Their findings supported the commonness of the “beauty is good” stereotype depicted in the characters depicting people in animated films. Also, Bazzini et. al (2010) study found that children were more likely to associate stereotypical depictions of females in the sample of Disney films they chose. However, Bazzini et. al study did not focus on younger children, which I plan to use younger children between the ages of 4 to 6 as the population of interest in this study. Presumably, younger children are more susceptible to messages that promote stereotypical influences than the relatively older children used in Bazzini et. al study (Bazzini et. al …show more content…
The pictures will include Disney princesses and characters such as: Snow White and the Wicked Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Cinderella and the Stepmother (Cinderella), Princess Aurora and Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), Ariel and Ursula (The Little Mermaid), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Jasmine (Aladdin), Pocahontas (Pocahontas), Tiana (The Princess and the Frog), and Rapunzel and Mother Gothel (Tangled). Participants will see each film at the beginning of each scheduled session. Following the film, the research assistant will show pictures to participants and participants will rate each picture using a Semantic Differential measure, which will assess the feelings participants have towards specific Disney characters by using different juxtaposing adjectives. Participants will view each Disney princess photo and the photos of other Disney film characters. After viewing the photos, participants will point to a spot on the continuum and a research assistant will mark the spot specified by the participant. The pictures of the different Disney princesses and characters will project on a projector screen, and the research assistant will enlarge the photos to fit the projector screen. Participants will receive the Semantic Differential measure on a sheet of
Current Study The purpose of this study is to investigate the depiction of beauty in animated Disney princess films and measure the consequences that the portrayal of beauty has on young girl’s individual self-esteem levels. The hypothesis of this study, states that young girls who idolize the beauty standards of Disney princesses will have lower self-esteem levels than young girls who do not idolize Disney princesses standard of beauty. I expected that young girls who have the desire to mimic Disney princesses would have lower self-esteem levels because the beauty standards of Disney princess are impossible to obtain; therefore, their perception of beauty will become extremely faltered, which will lead to a decrease in their …show more content…
al study (2010), the researchers assessed whether children a single exposure to animated Disney films stereotypical portrayals of characters or non-stereotypical portrayals of the physical attractiveness stereotype influence children, and if the physical attractiveness stereotype is present in animated Disney films. Their findings supported the commonness of the “beauty is good” stereotype depicted in the characters depicting people in animated films. Also, Bazzini et. al (2010) study found that children were more likely to associate stereotypical depictions of females in the sample of Disney films they chose. However, Bazzini et. al study did not focus on younger children, which I plan to use younger children between the ages of 4 to 6 as the population of interest in this study. Presumably, younger children are more susceptible to messages that promote stereotypical influences than the relatively older children used in Bazzini et. al study (Bazzini et. al …show more content…
The pictures will include Disney princesses and characters such as: Snow White and the Wicked Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Cinderella and the Stepmother (Cinderella), Princess Aurora and Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), Ariel and Ursula (The Little Mermaid), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Jasmine (Aladdin), Pocahontas (Pocahontas), Tiana (The Princess and the Frog), and Rapunzel and Mother Gothel (Tangled). Participants will see each film at the beginning of each scheduled session. Following the film, the research assistant will show pictures to participants and participants will rate each picture using a Semantic Differential measure, which will assess the feelings participants have towards specific Disney characters by using different juxtaposing adjectives. Participants will view each Disney princess photo and the photos of other Disney film characters. After viewing the photos, participants will point to a spot on the continuum and a research assistant will mark the spot specified by the participant. The pictures of the different Disney princesses and characters will project on a projector screen, and the research assistant will enlarge the photos to fit the projector screen. Participants will receive the Semantic Differential measure on a sheet of