Disney Princesses

Improved Essays
Show More
Disney Princesses and the Effects on Child Development
Whelan (2012) stated that princess narratives has been key throughout children’s literature. Hurley (2005) stated that fairy tales, such as Disney Princess narratives play a crucial role in shaping self-image of a child. England, Descartes, and Collier-Meek (2011) claimed that Disney Princess films portray stereotypical presentations of gender roles and have several examples of racism and sexism by having almost every princess have large breast, a small waistline, and a white completion. I will attempt to answer the following question: Do Disney Princess narrations have long lasting effects on child development and self-image negatively? To answer this question, I will analyze scholarly …show more content…
Miaty (2014) claimed that the Disney organization omits women from having distinct statuses, Disney freely admitted “Girls bored me. They still do” (p. #29) England, Descartes, and Collier-Meek (2011) stated that Disney Princess narratives explicitly show gender stereotypes. Maity (2014) stated that female’s portrayal in popular culture promotes the gender roles of the sensitive, naive, and domesticated women. Whelan (2012) stated that Disney Princess narratives starts and finishes with the princesses' romantic relationship with a man and in no circumstance do the Princesses go off to pursue their own lives without a Prince. Maity (2014) stated that Disney Princess narratives demonstrate that women achieve happiness by meeting a man and living with him. Coyne, Rasmussen, Linder, Nelson, and Birkbeck (2016) have claimed that the Disney Princess narratives send numerous strong messages regarding gender, that girls should be submissive and fearful. Maity (2014) claimed that several girls who like Disney Princess narratives often dream about having a “happily ever after”. Fairy tales and Disney Princess narratives are an epitome of women’s lives being produced by male authority. Coyne, Rasmussen, Linder, Nelson, and Birkbeck (2016) have claimed that women who classify themselves as “princesses” quit more quickly on a harder task, were less willing to want to work, and were further attracted to materialistic

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    The Princess Paradox Analysis
    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Princess Paradox Analysis

    In the article “The Princess Paradox,” Poniewozik discusses Hollywood movies produced for the public that convey an idealistic culture. Poniewozik claims that the princess culture is not despicable for young girls to know or experience and promotes feministic ideas by introducing certain movies. Poniewozik introduces that in 2001, many cinderella stories were produced bringing in a gross profit of 108 million dollars. Since then, Hollywood has decided to keep producing these cinderella stories and fairytales to continue bringing in this profit. “Call it nature or nurture, harmless fantasy or insidious indoctrination, but Hollywood is discovering that it still pays not to fight the royal urge” (323).…

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Cinderella And Princess Culture 'And The Princess Paradox'
    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cinderella And Princess Culture 'And The Princess Paradox'

    While Poniewozik argues that modern princess movies teach children how to be strong and independent and are ultimately good role models, Orenstein expresses her opinion on non-princess characters becoming more feminine and why it is teaching girls the wrong ideals. Poniewozik spends a majority of his article portraying recent princess stories as a perfect contrast between fantasy and feminism, in hopes of showing other feminists why they do not need to be cautious when it comes to modern princesses influencing their children in today’s society. Poniewozik writes “it’s not the girl who must prove herself worthy of princesshood; princesshood must prove itself worthy of the girl” (Poniewozik 325). To Poniewozik, this depicts how modern princesses have transformed into role models for girls, teaching them that they can choose to be whatever they set their minds to. When comparing the two authors, Orenstein takes a very different approach to princesses and role models.…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Cinderella And Princess Culture Summary
    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Cinderella And Princess Culture Summary

    After feminist Peggy Orenstein’s three year old daughter expresses her enjoyment in dressing as Cinderella, Orenstein begins to worry, thinking that dressing as a princess “can undermine girls’ well-being” (Orenstein 327). Wanting to get to the bottom of the princess culture, Orenstein sets out on an investigation, learning that “princesses” are a money-making machine. Through the director of consumer products at Disney, Inc., Andy Mooney, Orenstein is persuaded to think that the princess culture is just a phase; however, she still provides evidence of the dangers of the expectations to be a “princess” in society. In Orenstein’s article “Cinderella and Princess Culture”, appearing in the New York Times, originally titled “What’s Wrong with…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Toddlers In Tiaras Summary
    • 1712 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Toddlers In Tiaras Summary

    Beauty standards are a common struggle in girls and always have been. Throughout the years the standards have changed, and they are now becoming more prominent in young girls. Research has been done, and it has shown that young girls no longer want to do “little” girl activities; but want to change their looks, wait for their prince charming, and become big girls. Stephanie Hanes, with a background in play therapy, wrote an article concerning Disney Princesses effects on young girls. Hanes has a young daughter who is not herself anymore because she “is waiting on her prince”; a concerned and confused mother is able to create an article pointing out her research on what has changed in her three year old daughter, and it all comes back to Disney…

    • 1712 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Princess Paradox By James Ponniewozik
    • 1256 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Princess Paradox By James Ponniewozik

    He discusses how Hollywood feeds into the princess craze by continuing to release princess related movies. However, he claims that today’s modern movies have made their female characters less dependent on men and more individual and confident in themselves, unlike the older princess movies. Even though these movies end with the girl getting the guy at the end, he claims that girls are okay with it because the movies are balanced with “varied depictions of young women” (Poniewozik 667). He states that even though these movies are taking a step into feminism, they are still setting standards for girls.…

    • 1256 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Trouble With Disney's Teeny, Tiny Princesses Analysis
    • 1036 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Trouble With Disney's Teeny, Tiny Princesses Analysis

    In Philip Cohen’s article “The Trouble With Disney’s Teeny, Tiny Princesses”, he focuses on Disney’s depiction of men and women. He examines the differences in size and the magnification of the size between the genders and the effects it has on the younger generation of kids. Through the clear use of purpose, organization, and logic, Cohen clearly states his position that Disney should stop creating movies with misrepresentation between men and women. Philip Cohen’s main…

    • 1036 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    What's Wrong With Cinderella Analysis
    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What's Wrong With Cinderella Analysis

    These younger generations of girls/ladies have learned that not only can they be a princess and look beautiful both inside and out, but they are strong young ladies that have the world at their finger tip. This generation can become whatever their hearts desire as they increase their learning and social involvement. Parents should take it upon themselves to discuss with their children the visual display that is exposed by media such as Disney’s Princesses and today's modern idols; because their child might be going through the discovering phase or like Orenstein's daughter understands that, being a princess is a phase, but being a fireman is for…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Gender Roles In Disney Movies: The Little Mermaid And Frozen
    • 1279 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Gender Roles In Disney Movies: The Little Mermaid And Frozen

    Women are helpless and in need of protection, women are domestic and likely to marry, and overweight women are ugly, unpleasant, and unmarried. Frozen and the little mermaid provide a great examples of how Disney movies portray its characteristics and embeds many stereotypes that can benefit and deter one’s…

    • 1279 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Cinderella And The Princess Culture Analysis
    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cinderella And The Princess Culture Analysis

    Fairytales’, being around for several generations, have evolved through time and caught the attention of many folklorists, and demands an explanation of how feminism plays an essential role in today 's culture. Folklorist and author, James Poniewozik wrote, “The Princess Paradox” to raise an attempt to explain the “girls-kick-ass culture” (323). Peggy Orenstein published, “Cinderella and the Princess Culture” to examine and identify the belief of feminism within fairytales. Even though two different authors studied and evaluated the same topic, being feminism in fairytales, their approaches and conclusions on the topic tend to differentiate slightly, but also come to an agreeance in other areas.…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Rhetoric In Disney Princess Movies
    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetoric In Disney Princess Movies

    Over time, it has been evident that Disney has promoted a different message within their princess movies, which is a shift in rhetoric. At first, the princess movies displayed unrealistic goals for young girls and now, there is a paradigm of different princesses that set an example for those who have goals and wish to achieve them. From a classical princess such as Aurora to a modern one such as Elsa, the messages are displayed in the princesses goals and obstacles. Prior to Frozen and other movies alike, Disney princesses all had one common goal: to fall in love. Aurora met her prince in the forest and instantly fell in love.…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Cinderella's Mother
    • 1037 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Cinderella's Mother

    Almost all girls have either seen or have heard the “Cinderella” story before. Being a princess has been most girl 's dreams as a child, but little do they think about the theme and the message the “Cinderella” story creates. Elisabeth Panttaja, professor from Tufts University and author of the article “Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior,” explains a theme that people may find unsettling because she claims that Cinderella and the prince may not have been in love. She hints at the fact that Cinderella’s mother may have been the culprit in scheming and seducing the prince into marrying her.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    What's Wrong With Cinderella Summary
    • 840 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What's Wrong With Cinderella Summary

    It is mentioned how a mother hates the idea of Disney princesses for multiple reasons and how they are surrounding her daughters life in an awful way. Some of the reasons given in the article I have seen mentioned before and entirely agree with even though as a child I was a fan of princesses and dolls. One of my personal favorite inaccuracies with Disney princesses is their dependence. Disney has given each of their princesses a dependence on men, whether it be their fathers or the man they “love” in the story, the princess has to be saved by a man. First of all, a woman can have just as much strength and independence as a man can and certainly can survive without one, as many woman have.…

    • 840 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Classical Conditioning In Cinderella
    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Classical Conditioning In Cinderella

    A classic princess story, Cinderella remains to be one of Disney’s most popular movies. However, what is disturbing is the manner in which this movie imposes gender roles by depicting women in a negative manner. This film seems to be reinforcing the notion that women are weaklings and that the only way in which any society can survive is by upholding male dominance and embracing female submissiveness. The movie begins by showing Cinderella living happily with her parents in a faraway kingdom.…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Cinderella By Jack Zipes Essay
    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cinderella By Jack Zipes Essay

    Responding to the Critic’s idea: Young girls tend to imagine and dream of being whisked away by a charming and wealthy prince because of fairytales like Cinderella that show and encourage it. I agree with Jack Zipes’ analysis on the decisions that women in fairy tales make. This supports the fairytale Cinderella and the decision that Cinderella made. Jack Zipes says that “comic endings call upon young females to value communal stability over individual needs.” meaning that the women in fairy tales made the decision to chose communal stability which is marrying a wealthy and handsome prince instead of individual needs, which is being an independent woman who looks after herself, provides her herself and creates her own wealth instead of…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Little Women Or Little Girls Analysis
    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Little Women Or Little Girls Analysis

    Never After: A Fantasy Gone Wrong For a company whose motto claimed it as the happiest place on earth, it sure doesn’t resonate that way for most people. Published in 2011 in the Christian Science Monitor, the article, “Little Women or Little Girls” by journalist Stephanie Hanes discusses the effects of media platforms such as the Disney princess’ franchise and argues that their means of sexualization and objectification tremendously impacts the way the population of young female develops. By formulating her argument through the uses of credible data to support her claims, Hanes’ is able to build a platform to educate and aware the audience, mostly parental figures, on the causes and how to combat the growing issue of sexualization on young…

    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings