Research Topic

Disney is a part of nearly every child in America’s life.  From books, to movies, to visits to the most magical place on earth known as Disney World, fairytales are engrained in our lives.  Fairytales show us happiness, positivity, and understanding, however they often portray an unrealistic, stereotypical storyline, especially for female characters.  The question to ask is: how has the progression of gender roles portrayed in Disney Fairytales over the past 60 years influenced the way adolescent girls view their future role in society?  This is important to understand because these movies may potentially have a major effect on the way young girls, and eventually women, view themselves and their role in society.  To answer this question, one must look at specific storylines, for example Belle in Beauty and the Beast, or Mulan in her role as a warrior, and analyze the role they play in their respective societies.  In the photograph above, it is evident that girls worship these fairytales from a young age, possibly influencing them to act a certain way toward boys or men, or teaching them outdated stereotypes.