Female Objectification in Movies
When it comes to children, influences of Disney are hard to miss. The umbrella of the Disney Corporation reaches from books and toys to movies, television networks, and radio (Towbin, 24). Starting at around the age of 18 months, cartoon are the most interesting format of media to children (Thompson, 652). With young children spending so much time engaging in these forms of media, the messages they promote are very important. The ideas of young people who have not yet developed a high level of thinking can be easily molded by the media they experience every day.
The Seductive Female
Though Disney movies are often portrayed as very innocent, the images they feed to children are not. Though our society is constantly changing, the female character has changed very little since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937. Children are given an idea of what femininity is, even if it is unrealistic. Females are usually highly sexualized with large breasts, a tiny waist, fluttering eyelashes, and coy expressions (Chyng Sun). This image is incredibly dangerous to the minds of both girls and boys. Girls are given an unrealistic model to compare themselves to and boys begin to develop a false image of women. It is more common for children to try to imitate characters of their own gender than of the opposite gender. Even in animal forms, these images stay true and females are sexualized and seductive. In contrast, women who do not fit these stereotypes are seen as ugly and unpleasant, often taking on the roll as the villain. Overweight women are either not portrayed at all or portrayed in a negative manner (Towbin, 31).
Beauty Over Brains
In Disney movies a common theme is that women are valued more for their appearance than their intellect. According to Mia Towbin, “females are constantly placed in situations where looks count more than brains and helplessness and incompetent behaviors are expected”(21). Even more, intelligent females are often ridiculed. For example, in The Beauty and the Beast, Belle is said to be odd since she likes to read books. Instead of seeing smart, independent women, females are often portrayed as the seductress. From a young age girls are taught to use their body, not their brains, to get what they want. In Aladdin, Jasmine uses seduction to distract the villain, Jafar. Another example of this can be found in The Little Mermaid. Ariel gives up her voice and must rely only on her body to win the love of the prince.
The Domestic Woman
As a woman, Mulan is mainly valued for her appearance. This scene also shows stereotypical gender roles: "men want girls with good taste, charm, obedience, who work fast-paced."
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Watching more television is found to increase gender role stereotyping and by extension shape views of women's roles in society (Thompson, 652). Gender roles in movies have changed very little over the years, even as society has progressed. Where men hold a wide variety of jobs outside the home, women are often only found in domestic roles. For example, a study found that in 16 Disney movies men had 26 different occupations, where there were 24 examples of women holding domestic jobs. (Towbin, 23). In Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, she is happy to just cook and clean the house all day. In addition to domestic stereotypes, the female's main goal is often marriage or involves pursuing a love interest. This creates an image that a women needs a man to support her. Even when strong, independent women are portrayed, they are usually still helped or rescued at some point by a man. For example, in Aladdin Jasmine is seen as a strong character because she often stands up to her father, however in the end she needs to be saved by Aladdin. These images all play into the idea that women are powerless and they need a man to save them. |
Violence
Perhaps one of the most alarming images displayed in Disney movies is that of violence and domestic abuse. The Beauty and the Beast may be viewed as an innocent love story, however under all of the singing and dancing is a story of violence and control. This movie shows children that it is important to be patient and loving toward an abuser and they will change (Chyng Sun). In the video below, Dr. Carolyn Newberger studies the affect these images have on children, especially young girls.
Links to Sources:
Towbin, Mia Adessa, Shelley A. Haddock, Toni Schindler Zimmerman, Lori K. Lund, and Litsa Renee Tanner. "Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films." Journal of Feminist Family Therapy 15, no. 4 (2004): 19-44. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/j086v15n04_02#.UpyvhuI4kaY
Chyng Sun, Feng. "Mickey Mouse Monopoly: Disney Childhood and Corporate Power." Miguel Picker (2001; Media Education Foundation), DVD. http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=112
Thompson T. L, and Zerbinos E. "Gender Roles in Animated Cartoons: Has the Picture Changed in 20 Years." Sex Roles, 32 (1995): 651-673. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01544217
Towbin, Mia Adessa, Shelley A. Haddock, Toni Schindler Zimmerman, Lori K. Lund, and Litsa Renee Tanner. "Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films." Journal of Feminist Family Therapy 15, no. 4 (2004): 19-44. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/j086v15n04_02#.UpyvhuI4kaY
Chyng Sun, Feng. "Mickey Mouse Monopoly: Disney Childhood and Corporate Power." Miguel Picker (2001; Media Education Foundation), DVD. http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=112
Thompson T. L, and Zerbinos E. "Gender Roles in Animated Cartoons: Has the Picture Changed in 20 Years." Sex Roles, 32 (1995): 651-673. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01544217