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
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper aims to analyze the representation of gender roles in four selected Disney princess movies: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pocahontas, Tangled, and Frozen. The objective is to examine how female characters are portrayed and to explore whether there are noticeable changes in these portrayals over time. While a full analysis of all aspects of gender representation is impossible within the scope of this paper, the focus will be on readily observable characteristics and differences across these films.
- Evolution of female character representation in Disney films.
- Analysis of gender roles through the lens of Lakoff and Tannen's theories.
- Comparison of female characters' appearances, intelligence, and reliance on others for protection.
- The influence of Disney movies on children's perceptions of gender roles.
- Identification of differences and similarities in gender portrayal across the selected films.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the term paper by highlighting the significant influence of media, particularly Disney films, on children's perceptions of gender roles. It introduces the Disney Princess line and its impact, focusing on four key films—Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pocahontas, Tangled, and Frozen—as case studies for analyzing the evolution of female character representation and the changing depiction of gender roles within the Disney universe over time. The chapter establishes the core research question: How are gender roles represented in these films, and are there significant changes observable across different eras of Disney animation?
2. Gender Roles Theories: This chapter presents foundational theoretical frameworks for understanding gender roles as they relate to language and communication. It introduces the work of Robin Lakoff, focusing on her observations regarding lexical and syntactic differences between the language typically used by men and women. Specific examples are given to illustrate Lakoff's points, such as differences in color vocabulary and the use of tag questions. The chapter also delves into the contributions of Deborah Tannen, exploring her concepts of report-talk and rapport-talk and how they relate to differences in communication styles between genders. The chapter emphasizes that these linguistic differences are socially constructed and deeply embedded in how we perceive and interact with the world.
3. Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company: This chapter serves as an overview of the Walt Disney Company's influence on children's media and its significant impact on shaping cultural perceptions of gender roles. It doesn't provide detailed summaries of each film mentioned, but lays the groundwork for the analysis to come. The connection between the Disney Princess line, the selected films, and their potential impact on shaping children's perceptions of gender roles is highlighted. This section sets the stage for the detailed analysis of the individual films in subsequent chapters.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Gender Roles in Disney Princess Films
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the representation of gender roles in four Disney princess movies: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pocahontas, Tangled, and Frozen. It examines how female characters are portrayed and explores whether these portrayals changed over time. The analysis focuses on readily observable characteristics and differences across these films.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the evolution of female character representation in Disney films; an analysis of gender roles using Lakoff and Tannen's theories; a comparison of the characters' appearances, intelligence, and reliance on others for protection; the influence of Disney movies on children's perceptions of gender roles; and identifying differences and similarities in gender portrayal across the selected films.
Which theoretical frameworks are used in the analysis?
The paper utilizes the gender role theories of Robin Lakoff and Deborah Tannen. Lakoff's work on lexical and syntactic differences in language use between men and women is examined, as are Tannen's concepts of report-talk and rapport-talk and their relation to communication styles between genders.
How are the Disney films analyzed?
The paper analyzes four specific Disney princess films: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pocahontas, Tangled, and Frozen. The analysis focuses on comparing and contrasting the portrayal of female characters in these films across different eras of Disney animation, looking for changes in their representation over time.
What aspects of the female characters are compared?
The analysis compares the female characters' appearances, intelligence levels, and their degree of helplessness and need for protection from others.
What is the overall objective of the research?
The objective is to understand how Disney's portrayal of female characters has changed over time and to assess the potential impact of these portrayals on children's perceptions of gender roles.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a chapter on gender role theories (covering Lakoff and Tannen), a chapter on Walt Disney and the company's influence, a chapter comparing characteristics of the princesses, and a conclusion (implied).
What is the scope of the analysis?
While acknowledging the impossibility of a fully comprehensive analysis of all aspects of gender representation, the paper focuses on readily observable characteristics and differences in the portrayal of female characters across the four selected films.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2017, The representation of gender roles in Disney movies, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/386169
