What I've Learned from Disney

Throughout my life I've considered myself a true southern belle, and I'm sure you can tell through that title that I love all things country and Disney. I stumbled across an article on livescience.com called "Disney Princes and Princesses Still Slaves to Some Stereotypes" that opened my eyes to the foundation that Disney has set up for me about certain stereotypes regarding gender. I grew up watching every Disney movie known to womankind and that truly built the basis on which I view male/female relationships. The article centers around how although gender roles for females are continuously changing, Disney still portrays the typical "pretty princess" role for almost all their protagonists. The article questions Peggy Orenstein, the author of the book "Cinderella Ate My Daughter," about her views towards Disney's messages about gender roles. Although I love each feel-good, happily-ever after princess story, I completely agree with what Peggy articulates. The idea that women should focus on their outer beauty instead of what's inside their heart is teaching kids the wrong message at a young age.

Through the years you can see Disney's development of a stronger more assertive female role in movies such as "Mulan" and "Pocahontas", the overabundance of feminine roles seen in earlier Disney movies like "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Snow White" trumps these stronger, more confident roles. Little girls don't want to dress up as Mulan or Pocahontas. Each girl wants to identify with all the other "girly" princesses that are the majority of the Disney Princess Collection. Only two out of the nine princesses have these independent personalities. However when looking at the male prince characters of Disney movies, the men have recently showed both masculine and feminine traits. Not only are they strong and disciplined, but they also show emotions and are sensitive. They have had a more significant change in attitude as opposed to the women. Many young women, including myself, grow up watching the Disney movies and get their first grasp on relationships and gender roles through television and specifically movies like these. I definitely believe that Disney needs to produce more independent princesses to show children that it's okay if you don't fall in love with the first guy you meet. Within the next decade I believe Disney has the ability to move away from the traditional gender stereotypes that were created years before. 

I found the following pictures from the The Society Pages.org. I believed they show a similar belief of what Disney Princes & Princesses have "taught" young women.