Kelsey Bobrow Ms.

Mac Period 4 OUTLINE TITLE Introduction: The toddler had stopped running and jumping, and insisted on wearing only dresses. She sat on the front step quietly waiting, she said, for her prince. She seemed less imaginative, less spunky, less interested in the world. Stephanie Hanes Do I need to define the Princesses because not all of them actually are? Thesis: Disney Princess movies are harmful to children because they exhibit anti-feminist messages, which instill ideas of gender roles into the malleable minds of their young audiences. in the ways the characters are animated, the ways the characters behave, and the ways in which in the Princess brand is marketed. I. Body Image A. Thin Ideal: All the Princesses without fail are skinny, too skinny. The skinny translates into pretty, creating an image unattainable for most girls. The skinnier one is, the prettier she is. It also gives boys a false expectation of how women should look; this could create a situation of boys putting pressure on girls to look a certain way because of public criticism. 1. Animator from Frozen A. Historically speaking, animating female characters are really, really difficult, cause they have to go through these range of emotions, but theyre very, very you have to keep them pretty and theyre very sensitive to you can get them off a model very quickly-Lino DiSalvo-Animator on Disney movie Frozen 2. Being pretty and getting looked at brings power: A. When girls attempt to be these princesses through dress up, they internalize a notion central to post-feminist discourse: the illusion of

the power of being looked at(Damsels and Heroines) 3. Beauty is what gives women value A. Evil Queen wants to kill Snow White because of her beauty B. Auroras first gift is beauty C. 4. a) b) c) Belle ridiculed for smarts but praised for beauty Modifying Merida (image) (The broad side) Frizzy hair is ugly Small waist and breasts Fancier dress

5. Beauty is linked to happiness a) Across the animated movies, attractive characters displayed higher intelligence, lower aggressiveness, and greater moral virtue. Moreover, physically attractive characters were more likely to achieve positive life outcomes at the film's end and were more likely to be romantically involved. (Do animated characters portray and promote) B. Disney presents women who are heavier, older, and less attractive as evil. 1. Ursula- Could at first be seen as a step in the right direction because a female character is presented heavier than in the past. All of that goes out the window though, because of the personality tied to the sea monster. Fat and older get attributed to ugly and evil. (Diswomen strike back) 2. Cinderellas stepmother, witch Snow White

A. Older women as the antagonists. Creating the idea that older women are extremely jealous of young beauty, and insecure 1. Putting women against each other instead of working together a) Fighting over men (stepsisters), mean over beauty C. Self-Esteem A. Approval of others B. Changing body for a man, not being comfortable in own skin 1. Ariel literally trading in her voice for a body that Eric will like (Advice from a cartoon Princess) II. Passivity, Submissiveness A. Silence- Disney takes away the voices of some of the Princesses suggesting that value has nothing to do with intelligence and independence. Suggesting that women should stand around and look pretty but not speak 1. Aurora, Snow White 2. Ariel B. Pleasing male authority figures 1. No happy ending without happy male figures A. Even when Ariel runs away from her father, suggesting independence, at the end of the film her father is happy with her and Prince Eric C. Male saves the day-Damsel in Distress 1. The males always have to one-up the females

a) Acts of bravery or independence on the part of a female character are often followed by a twist in the plot that places her in a one-down position to a male. (Towbin) b) Study shows that male characters are almost always independent and demonstrating strength while it is uncommon for female characters to do the same (Happily Ever After: Construction of Family in Disney Princess Collection films) III. Characteristics of Princesses vs. Princes A. Happily Ever After: Construction of Family in Disney Princess Collection films B. Feminized Expressive characteristics 1. Princesses in the films were seen as more nurturing and self-sacrificing than the males. a) Pocahontas gives up a life with her love John Smith to stay and help her family b) Ariel sacrifices her voice and her family for a man c) The females are sweet and in touch with animals and nature which are classic stereotypes. d) (The) development of fathers role has taken place at the expense of the mothers role. The majority of the films that present fathers as nurturing either have completely left out mothers with little or no explanation, or the films marginalize mothers from the story...This depiction of parents suggests that fathers are only required or able to be nurturing when a mother is not available. ("Images Of Couples And

Families In Disney Feature-Length Animated Films) 2. Happiness of those around them a) Pocahontas, however, suddenly shifts from her obsession with Smith to a resolution to fulfill her community's needs, while subverting her own desires. In doing so, she traverses with ease the often tumultuous transition from self-absorption to self-denialYet promoting nurturance as a woman's primary goal can lead to dependence on others for approval and self-esteem." (Disneys Modern Heroine) 3. C. Instrumental traits (Masculine) IV. Happiness A. Not happy until with a man 1. Happily ever after 2. Fulfillment comes from finding a husband A. Bad ideas about love (Love vs. lust) and sexuality 3. Ideas about love and husbands A. Husband will bring happiness instead of finding it on ones own V. Opposition
A.

Still entertaining 1. People still love them 2. Making tons of money (Highest grossing entertainment product) (Forbes) a) 1.6 billion in North America

B. Characters against the norm

1. Fairy Godmother-Cinderella (Large and sweet) 2. Mrs. Potts-Beauty and the Beast (Large and sweet) C. Not entirely bad 1. Good messages too a) Belle-intelligence b) Mulan-strength and independence 2. Good messages are emulated by looks (Counter)
a)

When little girls process these images, the ability to identify with a

strong female character becomes the desire to dress like her, to emulate in appearance not action. (Damsels and Heroines) VI. Marketing A. Girly-Girl image 1. Assuming that a girls favorite color is pink (Whats Wrong with Cinderella?) 2. Sports are unfeminine (girls-inc study) 3. Dresses, thin, good hair (Mulan and Merida) B. Narrowing choices for girls 1. 26,000 products 2. $4 billion market 3. Ubiquitous C. Narrowing imagination 1. Stories are already in place

Conclusion:

A. Effects of stereotypical movies on adults: Smith et al. found that although participants generally favored the attractive applicant over the unattractive applicant, the extent of discrimination between the two was exacerbated by the viewing of the highly biased film.- "Do Animated Disney Characters Portray and Promote the Beauty-Goodness Stereotype?" B. Touch on how it is for boys -Male stereotypes -Be strong and marry a princess -Dont show emotion C. Stereotypes go both ways D. Harmful to society

Using this book Trying to get an interview with the author