Women aren’t there- We tell young girls and boys to reach for the stars, and that anything is possible. However, through cultural subliminal messages, society sends a completely different idea. Children's books are the first thing that many children will learn to read. Their first book, their first favorite story, and genre are more likely than not, without female representation in the United States. Women as a larger group won suffrage in 1921, with women of color following far behind in 1964. Even so, social and cultural implications still show young girls a different story. In the 2010 census for the U.S., it was found that 50.8% of the population is female(theguardian). This isn’t surprising, yet in children’s literature, only 31% of total
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Subconsciously the actively consume the messages of stories, which is one of the oldest and most important ways in which humans communicate. Children through play reenact what they understand, from the complexity of relationships to the stereotypes strewn in their books as well as through media and the bias of adults around them. Disney, a household name, took many of the Grimm fairytales and stories of the past and turned them into billion-dollar platforms. Disney stories have a profound influence on children, namely, young girls. their popularity could mean the continuation of age-old stereotypes that should not see the light of day in 2018. Stories are influential to children as a whisper to children, that these messages are something larger than them, this is something others know, and this is something worth sharing. Many Disney stories often show white female characters with long hair. This perception of “princess ideals” profoundly impacts the way young females see beauty, self-worth, and play(SOME PSYCH ARTICLE OR WGS?) Most female characters from Disney are also majorly represented through the franchise by dolls, movies, clothing, coloring books and amusement parks. The messages of “Girl Power” that many of the girl and tween books sell has lost touch, as most of the companies’ goals are oriented towards economics, not cultural significance. These missing elements of modern-girlhood , lack true substance in the storyline, character development and positive ideas towards women, which is shown through the prevailing messages sold to girls through consumerism of children’s literature and associated Disney products (Zaslow, 10). This is seen through the production of “girly” items of the princesses that illustrates the importance of monetary capital, as money is needed to enter the world of Disney, to buy the associated toys, dolls, and franchised
Subconsciously the actively consume the messages of stories, which is one of the oldest and most important ways in which humans communicate. Children through play reenact what they understand, from the complexity of relationships to the stereotypes strewn in their books as well as through media and the bias of adults around them. Disney, a household name, took many of the Grimm fairytales and stories of the past and turned them into billion-dollar platforms. Disney stories have a profound influence on children, namely, young girls. their popularity could mean the continuation of age-old stereotypes that should not see the light of day in 2018. Stories are influential to children as a whisper to children, that these messages are something larger than them, this is something others know, and this is something worth sharing. Many Disney stories often show white female characters with long hair. This perception of “princess ideals” profoundly impacts the way young females see beauty, self-worth, and play(SOME PSYCH ARTICLE OR WGS?) Most female characters from Disney are also majorly represented through the franchise by dolls, movies, clothing, coloring books and amusement parks. The messages of “Girl Power” that many of the girl and tween books sell has lost touch, as most of the companies’ goals are oriented towards economics, not cultural significance. These missing elements of modern-girlhood , lack true substance in the storyline, character development and positive ideas towards women, which is shown through the prevailing messages sold to girls through consumerism of children’s literature and associated Disney products (Zaslow, 10). This is seen through the production of “girly” items of the princesses that illustrates the importance of monetary capital, as money is needed to enter the world of Disney, to buy the associated toys, dolls, and franchised