Within the article Seeing White: Children of Color and the Disney Fairy Tale Princess, author Dorothy Hurley argues that “children’s self-image is affected by the ways in which they see themselves in texts both verbal and visual, and that fairy tales play in important role in shaping self-image and the belief-system of children”. This article uses the example of white privilege as a defining concept of the movies: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White. In these movies, beauty and goodness are referred to as “white”, for example in Sleeping Beauty, her sleeping body is referred to as “white and beautiful” by the prince, therefore causing young African American girls to view themselves in a negative manner. This is problematic because the specific reference, insinuating that women should be “white and beautiful”, provokes a vicious cycle of pessimism amongst African American adolescents as they grow into women.
In the article entitled Some Day My Prince Will Come: Female Acculturation Through the Fairy Tale, the author, Marcia Lieberman, also argues there is a problem with the portrayal of women in fairytales. She says, “We must consider the possibility that the classical attributes of ‘femininity’ found in [fairytales] are in fact imprinted in children and reinforced by the stories themselves”. This quote refers to the portrayal of women’s reliance on men, the prince, within all fairytale stories. Unfortunately, these portrayals are repeatedly enforced into young girls’ minds, strengthening the idea that women need men to be happy in life.
This brings up another point, should Disney even be considered child-friendly? In the article by Andreas Muller-Hartmann entitled Is Disney Safe for Kids? – Subtexts in Walt Disney’s Animated Films, the controversial topic is discussed of whether or not Disney is the right way to teach children about popular culture. The author comes to the conclusion that the relationship that young people have with the media is much different than it was generations ago, we are much more influenced by media outlets. Therefore, the ideals and concepts relayed through Disney fairytales may not be the best way to educate children about different beliefs a society holds. However, the author brings up the fact that these stories may be good educators of critical thinking and analysis of past cultural norms in America.
An analysis of Beauty and the Beast by author Sharon Downey also discusses some of the societal beliefs during the time when Disney fairytales were being created. She believes that the film has two separate narratives, one created for males, and another for females. These narratives are created vaguely, “through a blending of discursive elements”. This quote refers to the fact that Beauty and the Beast portrays women as supplementary to a dominant male figure, and does so quietly, as to subliminally relate these ideals to the audience.
In the website Sociological Images: Disney Princesses,Deconstructed, the messages conveyed to young viewers about gender roles are discussed and illustrated elaborately. The visuals provided, although extreme, truly depict the message Disney conveys to young girls and boys about what their role in society should be in the future.
In the article entitled Some Day My Prince Will Come: Female Acculturation Through the Fairy Tale, the author, Marcia Lieberman, also argues there is a problem with the portrayal of women in fairytales. She says, “We must consider the possibility that the classical attributes of ‘femininity’ found in [fairytales] are in fact imprinted in children and reinforced by the stories themselves”. This quote refers to the portrayal of women’s reliance on men, the prince, within all fairytale stories. Unfortunately, these portrayals are repeatedly enforced into young girls’ minds, strengthening the idea that women need men to be happy in life.
This brings up another point, should Disney even be considered child-friendly? In the article by Andreas Muller-Hartmann entitled Is Disney Safe for Kids? – Subtexts in Walt Disney’s Animated Films, the controversial topic is discussed of whether or not Disney is the right way to teach children about popular culture. The author comes to the conclusion that the relationship that young people have with the media is much different than it was generations ago, we are much more influenced by media outlets. Therefore, the ideals and concepts relayed through Disney fairytales may not be the best way to educate children about different beliefs a society holds. However, the author brings up the fact that these stories may be good educators of critical thinking and analysis of past cultural norms in America.
An analysis of Beauty and the Beast by author Sharon Downey also discusses some of the societal beliefs during the time when Disney fairytales were being created. She believes that the film has two separate narratives, one created for males, and another for females. These narratives are created vaguely, “through a blending of discursive elements”. This quote refers to the fact that Beauty and the Beast portrays women as supplementary to a dominant male figure, and does so quietly, as to subliminally relate these ideals to the audience.
In the website Sociological Images: Disney Princesses,Deconstructed, the messages conveyed to young viewers about gender roles are discussed and illustrated elaborately. The visuals provided, although extreme, truly depict the message Disney conveys to young girls and boys about what their role in society should be in the future.
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