For
most of us growing up in the 90s Disney movies were and still are a large part
of our lives. We all know the classics: Lion King, Snow White, Cinderella, 101
Dalmatians and the list goes on. As a young girl idealizing the Disney
Princesses was common, because what is not to like they are beautiful, thin and
fall in love with a handsome man. This teaches us at a young age to strive for
our own once upon a time and happily ever after. Some people may read this and
argue that Disney movies are harmless and from a child’s perspective they are.
I am not going to argue that Disney movies should be banned and I certainly
wouldn’t stop my own children from watching them but it is important to
recognize the subtle implications and messages that are being sent to children,
especially young girls through these movies.
The first critique of Disney
princesses is represented through feminist theory, which examines the
differences in male and female social roles, inequality, stereotypes and ideas
of patriarchy. Using concepts of feminist theory we can see how the idea of a
“damsel in distress” can have a negative influence over young girls ideas of
how women are represented in society.
The idea that a woman needs to be “saved” by a man and that men have a
higher power in society. In many of the Disney movies for example Cinderella
the princess does not become whole until she has met her Prince Charming and he
sweeps her off her feet. It is rare that a Disney princess is depicted as a
strong independent character; this is where we see the inequality in social
roles and the magnitude of patriarchy that is represented in these films. This leaves the idea in young girls minds that
women are to stay at home to cook and clean and men hold authority over women
and children because they are portrayed as strong and ideally masculine. This
leads into the next social issue that is present within Disney movies. Not only
are the social roles of male and female portrayed very stereotypically but
ideas of heteronormativity are displayed as well. A princess always has to find
her prince charming, placing the idea into young girls minds that in society it
is only acceptable to marry a man and that is what is expected of you.
Heteronormativity is the idea that heterosexuality is the only option instead
of being one of many possibilities. I believe this to be problematic because
children should be exposed to different types of sexuality at a young age
because then they will grow up and expect it to be normal regardless if someone
if heterosexual or not. Ideas of heteronormativity can be considered through
queer theory, which studies the relations of sex and gender. As similar to
feminist theory we can use queer theory to look at how gender socialization is
portrayed within these films. Gender being a social construction of femininity
and masculinity, the Disney princesses display ideal feminine qualities that
young girls look up to which shapes their minds to believe this is how women
should look and act throughout society and what the idealized notions of beauty
are.
Although I have a love for Disney
and as young girl idealized the Disney princesses myself, I feel as though
there are negative impacts that can come from exposing young children to these
films. Living in a society that is striving for equality it is important to
then recognize that something as simple as Disney movies can send the wrong
messages to young children. Ideas such as unequal social roles of men and
women, portraying the idealized images of femininity and masculinity which can
be problematic to a child’s body image and ideas of heteronormativity and
heterosexuality that, it is the only sexuality that is acceptable in society
which is not the case.
