Media is a big part of people’s everyday lives. It influences both how we see ourselves and how the world sees us. Media can be divided in many different types, for example: television, shows, movies, the radio, newspapers, advertisements and the internet. One of the most famous producers of children’s media is the Walt Disney Company. Since 1937 many movies, shows and other products were designed and published in order to entertain children. Thus, results a huge influence on children’s perception of the world and how they see themselves in the world. In all of them are images of women and men, which are represented in different ways and with different traits.
One popular production of Disney is the Disney princess line which was created 2001 and includes more than 25,000 different products. Currently, the line includes ten movies; four of them will be analysed in this term paper: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), "Pocahontas" (1995), "Tangled" (2010) and "Frozen" (2013).
These movies have an influence on children and their images of gender roles. But, how are gender roles represented in these movies and is there a remarkable change over time? This term paper will give an overview about the most influential movies of the Disney Princess line and how the image of female characters is presented. It is difficult to analyse all aspects of gender roles but the most obvious ones are regarded and how many differences exist in these four movies.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Gender Roles Theories
2.1 Gender Role Theory by Robin Lakoff
2.2 Gender Role Theory by Deborah Tannen
3. Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company
3.1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
3.2 Pocahontas
3.3 Tangled
3.4 Frozen
4. Comparison of Characteristics
4.1. Appearance and Intelligence
4.2. Helplessness and Need of Protection
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives & Themes
This paper examines the representation of gender roles within selected films from the Disney Princess line, specifically analyzing how female character traits have evolved from classical films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to modern examples such as Frozen. The primary research question explores whether there is a significant shift in the presentation of female identity, independence, and domesticity over time.
- The influence of linguistic gender theories on media character analysis.
- The evolution of the "Disney Princess" archetype across different film eras.
- Comparative analysis of physical appearance, intelligence, and personality traits.
- The dichotomy between independence/active agency and domestic dependency.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. Helplessness and Need of Protection
Another aspect which will be analysed is the helplessness and the need of protection and how these relate to gender role models. In Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs it is obvious that Snow White needs a man in order to get rescued.
Firstly, the huntsman is overwhelmed by her beauty and her goodness that he tells her to flee. As analysed before, she is a very passive character but she gets for the first time proactive and flees. Furthermore, when she finds the dwarfs’ house she depends completely on their permission if they will allow her to stay or not. This trait of helplessness and dependence can be explained by regarding the fact that she has been raised up socially isolated and that during this time women always needed the permission of men. Social isolation is caused by growing up alone and she did not have any contact to other adults. Furthermore, she shows obedience to the dwarfs by telling them that she will take care of herself, when they are at work. But, her goodness turns her into a victim and makes her helpless. She needs to be saved by the dwarfs and later by the prince (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). Even though Pocahontas seems to be an independent young girl with leadership traits, she listens to her father who demonstrates masculinity. Her father, Chief Powhatan, wants to see her marriage and by handing her the necklace of her mother he shows her that she reached a marriageable age. Moreover, he tells her that “Kocoum will make a fine husband.[..] with him you will be safe from harm.”, it emphasises that she needs protection from a man and that she depends also to a man (Pocahontas).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the media's influence on gender perception and establishes the scope of analyzing four specific Disney films.
2. Gender Roles Theories: This chapter provides the theoretical foundation by examining the linguistic theories of Robin Lakoff and Deborah Tannen regarding gender distinctions.
3. Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company: This section details the history of the company and provides plot summaries of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pocahontas, Tangled, and Frozen.
4. Comparison of Characteristics: This chapter conducts a comparative analysis focusing on appearance, intelligence, and the theme of helplessness across the selected films.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, noting that while Disney has shifted toward more assertive female characters, traditional stereotypical traits still persist.
6. Bibliography: This section lists all primary and secondary sources used for the research.
Keywords
Disney, Gender Roles, Princess, Media Representation, Femininity, Stereotypes, Film Analysis, Social Construct, Independence, Agency, Language, Domesticity, Empowerment, Evolution, Character Traits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper fundamentally investigates how gender roles are represented in Disney movies and whether there is a discernible shift in these portrayals over different eras of film production.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the analysis?
The main themes include linguistic gender theory, the evolution of the princess archetype, physical appearance and beauty standards, and the transition from passive, dependent roles to active, independent leadership roles.
What is the central research question?
The primary goal is to analyze how female characters are presented in the selected Disney movies and to determine if there is a remarkable change in gender representations over time.
Which scientific methods are applied in this work?
The work utilizes a qualitative analysis of characters based on coded content analysis and linguistic frameworks established by scholars like Lakoff and Tannen.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body focuses on the theoretical background of gender roles, profiles of specific movies, and a comparative analysis of character traits regarding intelligence, beauty, and the need for protection.
Which keywords characterize the essence of this study?
Key terms include Disney, Gender Roles, Princess, Stereotypes, Femininity, Independence, Agency, and Media Representation.
How does the author define the "traditional" Disney princess role?
The author identifies traditional traits as passivity, innocence, obedience, and the necessity of being rescued by a male figure, often tied to domestic labor.
What distinguishes Pocahontas from earlier Disney princesses according to the analysis?
Pocahontas is highlighted as a transition point, characterized by her curiosity, desire to choose her own destiny, and her rejection of the "typical princess" narrative of waiting for a prince.
How does the study interpret the portrayal of the sisters in Frozen?
The study argues that Frozen represents a shift where female strength and sibling love take precedence over the traditional reliance on a male hero for rescue.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2017, The representation of gender roles in Disney movies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/386169
