Disney sexism pdf

Thursday, December 6, 12

Sexism and Gender Role Depiction in Disney

Movies

Sexism and Gender Role Depiction in Disney

Movies

Morgan Alfiero CMS 200

Content Analysis

Introduction/ Statement of the Problem

❖ Motivation?: Disney Movies are full of sexism and stereotypes

❖ Gender Roles of both men and women

❖ Question??

❖ Is/ was the use of these gender roles and stereotypes done on purpose?

❖ Question??

❖ Is/ was the use of these gender roles and stereotypes done on purpose?

❖ Importance in Media/Communications

Is this what Disney wants to portray?

ORHas society shaped princesses this way?

Review of Relevant Literature

Review of Relevant LiteratureExtensive study done on the analysis of popular animated Disney films according

to major organizing principles of society: gender, race, age, and sexual orientation.

5 Themes in means of being a “Man”

5 Themes in means of being a “Man”1.) Men primarily use physical means to show emotion; 2.) Men are not in

control of their sexuality; 3.) Men are naturally strong and heroic; 4.) Men have non-domestic jobs; 5.) Overweight men have negative characteristics

4 Themes in means of being a “Women”

4 Themes in means of being a “Women”1.) A women’s appearance is valued more than her intellect; 2.) Women are

helpless and in-need of protection; 3.) Women are domestic and likely to marry; 4.) Overweight women are unpleasant, ugly, and unmarried.

(Towbin, Haddock, Zimmerman, Lund, Tanner; 2001)

Study Findings about Male Themes

❖ Men are naturally strong and heroic. In 19 movies, men and boys are portrayed as rescuers who save the day.

❖ Men have non-domestic in 17 movies these include miner, governor, salesman, chef, doctor, lawyer, sailor, space ranger, and musician.

❖ Only 3 movies had shown men preforming domestic tasks ( Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, and Tarzan.)

❖ Men’s control over women is tended to be romanticized like in Beauty in the Beast where this looks like a sign of the partner caring for them

Study Findings about Female Themes

❖ In 15 movies (Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Alice, Peter, Lady, Sleeping, Dalmatians, Jungle, Aristocats, Robin, Oliver, Hunchback, Hercules,) a woman’s value was determined by her appearance rather than her abilities or intellect. Examples: Sleeping beauty’s first gift given to her at birth is beauty and Ariel wins over Prince Eric after loosing her voice

❖ Almost none of the female characters have present and consistent mother figures

❖ 6 movies had shown a balance of valuing both appearance and intellect. (Towbin, Haddock, Zimmerman, Lund, Tanner; 2003)

❖ In 15 movies women are portrayed in domestic roles and in only 2 movies was marriage not presented as the ultimate goal.

Gender Roles:

Gender Roles: How gender is portrayed via assumed behaviors and social roles- can be stereotypical, neutral, or counter-

stereotypical to traditional roles (Durkin 1985).

*Gender Roles are a perceived set of behavioral norms usually associated with males and females in a given

social group or system ( Yerby, Baron, Lee).

Weaknesses in Research

Weaknesses in Research ❖ History has played a role in the characters

❖ Gender roles and Disney are continuing to evolve

❖ Movies are becoming more culturally and ethnically diverse

Expectations in Research

Expectations in Research ❖ Research Expectations: to find supporting information that Disney

uses only the role of traditional, domesticated values in terms of women and masculine, dominating traits in terms of men.

❖ Opposing side?: Disney is a successful, long-term business that was looking to entertain in terms of current culture.

❖ Thesis: Throughout many animated Disney features there seem to be many present stereotypes and traditional gender roles that withstand terms of independence, priorities, and self-image.

❖ Research Question: Is/was the use of gender stereotypes done on purpose?

Content Analysis:

Content Analysis:Very common method; you look at media or dialogue

and see how many times “X” occurred.

In this case we are looking at how many times a gender stereotype was present.

I looked at 2 movies and analyzed

Why content analysis??

Challenges?

A Look Inside ...

Cinderella

Examples and Conclusions

Examples and Conclusions“Forced to remain a servant in her own home, but remained ever so kind and

gentle”

Very nurturing to the mice-Saves them, names them, and clothes

Always so graceful and poised -Even when going to open the drapes

in the morning

gentle”

in the morning

gentle”

in the morning

gentle”

in the morning

Has a serious talk with her step mother and is very submissive as she yells at her-Does not stand up for herself and is

okay with being bossed around

The biggest issue with the prince and his father is that he needs to marry-ultimate goal which = children

gentle”

in the morning

gentle”

in the morning

The prince’s father does not take on a real “masculine” role because he is overweight, bald, white mustache,

bad tempered, unmarried, ect.

gentle”

in the morning

The prince’s father does not take on a real “masculine” role because he is overweight, bald, white mustache,

bad tempered, unmarried, ect.

“Leave the sewin’ to the women, you go get some trimmin’” says a girl mouse as they make

Cinderella’s dress

Examples and Conclusions Continued

*Questions Imagination vs. Reality

*Questions Imagination vs. Reality You have to do yourself up to someone that you aren’t

to get the prince to notice you

to get the prince to notice you - Love at first sight is easy

-She relies on the beauty of the dress to think he will love her= looks mean everything

“He was so handsome”

“He was so handsome” - first thing she says after the night

with the prince

with the prince “He is determined to marry her”

- after a couple hours spent together

A Look Inside....

A Look Inside....Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Examples and ConclusionsAt the beginning of the movie she wishes for her true love in the wishing well---

shows co-dependency and how she

shows co-dependency and how she needs a man

“I’m wishing for the one I love to find me”

She finds the abandon place in the woods and he first instinct is to touch upon the mess

-cobwebs, dishes everywhere, dust on the floors

She is very excited to clean

She is very excited to clean-sings, whistles

“Cheerfully together we can tidy up the place”

❖ “Whistle While You Work”

❖ Snow White sings this about cleaning and work inside the house

❖ “Heigh-Ho!”

❖ The Seven Dwarfs sing this song

❖ Men working outside the house in a mine getting their hands dirty---industrial jobs

❖ Don’t really care about a clean home

To Conclude....

To Conclude....Female characters have been portrayed as weaker, more controlled by others, emotional, warmer,

romantic, affectionate, sensitive, passive, domestic, and submissive than male characters (Yerby, Baron, Lee)

Disney Princesses have matured in their independence. Many still rely on men to rescue them, but many of the females have found that depending on

a man is less essential (Yerby, Baron, Lee).

Disney Princesses have matured in their independence. Many still rely on men to rescue them, but many of the females have found that depending on

a man is less essential (Yerby, Baron, Lee).After watching 2 movies and looking for stereotypical examples it seems that Disney appears to be more

stereotypical than they actually are. Back to the question of

Q: Were these stereotypes on purpose?

A: Disney is not purposely “stereotyping” genders. They have just used History, current norms and traditions to shape their characters-use the concept of Imagination vs. Reality1.)Imagination ( Princesses, Princes, Castles,

Fairies) 11.) Reality (Women struggling to have a voice

and work outside the home) - Only 24.3% of women worked outside the home

in 1930’s-Following norms of the time

Discussion

Discussion**Non-Supports are more apparent: Say Disney is sexist and

deliberately uses stereotypes

Discussion

❖ Male character stereotypes are non reflective of modern society, contrary the male villainous roles can be analyzed for potential negative impact on children and relationships with caring males. (Faherty; 2011)

**Non-Supports are more apparent: Say Disney is sexist and deliberately uses stereotypes

Discussion

❖ More than 80 years after Snow White, young girls are watching this and observe her submissive role with a smile (Schmidt; 2010)

Discussion

❖ More than 80 years after Snow White, young girls are watching this and observe her submissive role with a smile (Schmidt; 2010)

❖ Cinderella is head-over-heels in love after just a few hours (Schmidt; 2010)

THE END

Disney sexism pdf

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