Disney Princesses and Their Effect on Young Girls

Katie Roach

4 Dec 202003:04

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses the impact of Disney princesses on young girls, highlighting the common portrayal of princesses with unrealistic beauty standards and the narrative that they need to be saved by men. It critiques how these portrayals can influence girls to value beauty over intelligence, believe they need male saviors, and adopt stereotypical feminine behaviors. The speaker advocates for more diverse princess characters, like Elsa, Mulan, and Merida, who challenge traditional norms and show girls they don't need to conform to stereotypical roles or rely on men for validation or fulfillment.

Takeaways

👸 Disney princesses often portray a consistent image of perfection, with flawless appearances and hair, even in extreme situations.
🎤 The princesses are typically depicted as having exceptional singing abilities.
🤴 In many stories, a male character plays a crucial role in rescuing the princess from danger.
🧠 The script suggests that these portrayals might lead young girls to prioritize physical beauty over intellectual qualities.
💪 There is an implication that girls may develop the belief that they need a man to save them or to define their worth.
💔 The narrative can potentially harm girls' self-esteem and body image, especially if they feel they cannot meet the unrealistic beauty standards set by these characters.
📊 A study mentioned in the script indicates that girls with lower body image are more likely to be drawn to princess culture and adopt stereotypically feminine behaviors.
🚫 The script argues for the importance of diverse representations of princesses to challenge traditional gender roles and expectations.
🌟 Examples are given of princesses like Elsa, Mulan, and Merida, who break the mold by being independent, self-reliant, and not defined by romantic relationships.
📚 The script concludes with a call for more diverse and empowering portrayals of female characters in media to inspire young girls.

Q & A

What common physical traits do Disney princesses share according to the speaker?
-The speaker mentions that Disney princesses typically have tiny waists, perfect hair, and makeup that remain flawless throughout the movie, regardless of circumstances like snowstorms, swimming underwater, or crying.
What is the speaker's view on how Disney princesses' appearance affects young girls?
-The speaker suggests that the unrealistic perfection of Disney princesses' appearance may cause young girls to prioritize beauty over intelligence and give them unrealistic beauty standards.
What role do men typically play in Disney princess movies according to the speaker?
-The speaker points out that in many Disney princess movies, a man almost always saves the princess. For example, Flynn saves Rapunzel, Eric saves Ariel, and a prince saves Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
How does the speaker believe Disney princess movies influence girls' views on relationships with men?
-The speaker believes that Disney princess movies can make girls think they need to be saved by a man or that they need a man to complete their story, reinforcing a dependent mindset.
What example from *The Little Mermaid* does the speaker provide to illustrate a problematic message for young girls?
-The speaker refers to Ariel, who sacrifices her family, friends, and life as a princess under the sea just to be with a man she barely knows, even going so far as to give up her voice to a known evil sea witch for the chance to be with him.
What study is mentioned regarding the impact of Disney princess culture on girls?
-The speaker references a study that showed girls with lower body image became more interested in princess culture a year later, and the more they engaged with princess culture, the more they behaved in stereotypically feminine ways.
Why does the speaker find stereotypical feminine behavior potentially problematic for girls?
-The speaker suggests that stereotypical feminine behavior can be problematic if it causes girls to believe that their life opportunities are limited by gender-based preconceived notions.
What are some examples of more diverse princesses the speaker highlights?
-The speaker mentions Elsa from *Frozen* (who finds herself without needing a man), Mulan (who disguises as a man and goes to war to protect her country), and Merida from *Brave* (who wins her own hand in marriage and saves her family).
What message does the speaker believe more diverse princesses send to young girls?
-The speaker believes that diverse princesses show young girls that they don’t need to be traditionally feminine, don’t need to rely on a man, and that it’s important to see themselves represented in the media.
How does the speaker suggest princesses can impact girls' self-perception and goals in life?
-The speaker argues that princesses can shape how girls see themselves and their potential in life, encouraging them to think that their worth is tied to their appearance or that they need a man to achieve happiness, limiting their sense of independence.

Outlines

00:00

👸 Impact of Disney Princesses on Young Girls

This paragraph discusses the influence of Disney princesses on young girls, highlighting their common portrayal with perfect appearances and the recurring theme of being saved by a man. It points out that these portrayals can lead girls to value beauty over intelligence and reinforce the idea that they need a man for rescue or validation. The paragraph also mentions a study showing that girls with lower body image become more interested in princess culture, which can influence them to adopt stereotypically feminine behaviors. The speaker advocates for more diverse princesses to demonstrate that girls don't have to conform to traditional femininity and can be independent, as exemplified by characters like Elsa, Mulan, and Merida.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Princess culture

Princess culture refers to the widespread influence of Disney princesses and similar characters on young girls, shaping ideals of beauty, femininity, and behavior. In the video, the speaker mentions how girls with lower body image tend to engage more with princess culture, which can lead them to adopt stereotypically feminine behavior and potentially limit their perceptions of gender roles.

💡Stereotypical femininity

Stereotypical femininity involves traditional gender roles that emphasize beauty, dependence on men, and passivity. In the video, the speaker highlights how princesses embody these traits, particularly through their flawless appearance and the frequent need for male rescue, which could reinforce harmful gender norms in young girls.

💡Beauty standards

Beauty standards refer to societal expectations about physical appearance, often emphasizing traits like thin waists, perfect hair, and makeup. The video criticizes how Disney princesses maintain their beauty regardless of the situation, which could cause young girls to prioritize appearance over other qualities, like intelligence or independence.

💡Male savior narrative

The male savior narrative is the recurring trope where a male character rescues a female character, reinforcing the idea that women need men for protection and success. The video provides examples from Disney movies, such as Flynn saving Rapunzel and Eric saving Ariel, suggesting that this trope may influence girls to feel reliant on men for their own well-being.

💡Body image

Body image refers to one's perception and attitude toward their own physical appearance. The video connects low body image in young girls with increased engagement in princess culture, implying that these portrayals of idealized beauty can negatively impact how girls feel about their own bodies.

💡Representation

Representation in media refers to how different groups, especially minorities or underrepresented populations, are portrayed. The speaker advocates for more diverse princesses to help girls see characters that reflect themselves, which could challenge traditional gender roles and provide more empowering narratives.

💡Self-reliance

Self-reliance is the ability to depend on oneself rather than others. The video contrasts traditional princesses with characters like Elsa from *Frozen* and Merida from *Brave*, who don’t rely on men for their happiness or success, thereby promoting self-reliance as an important quality for young girls to emulate.

💡Gender roles

Gender roles are societal expectations about behavior based on one's gender. The video critiques the narrow roles princesses often occupy—focused on beauty, needing rescue, and finding a prince—arguing that these portrayals can limit how girls view their own potential and place in the world.

💡Independence

Independence in this context refers to a character’s ability to solve their own problems and find their own happiness without relying on others, particularly men. The video highlights characters like Elsa and Mulan as positive examples of independence, contrasting them with earlier princesses who depended on male heroes.

💡Female empowerment

Female empowerment is the concept of encouraging women and girls to take control of their own lives and make their own choices. The video argues that more diverse and independent princesses, like Elsa, Mulan, and Merida, offer role models for girls that promote empowerment rather than dependency on traditional, gendered narratives.

Highlights

Disney princesses often have unrealistic beauty standards, such as tiny waists and perfect hair and makeup.

Princesses maintain their appearance regardless of the situation, even in extreme conditions like snowstorms or underwater.

The princesses are often saved by a man, reinforcing the idea that they need rescuing.

The narrative can lead young girls to value physical beauty over intelligence.

Girls might develop the belief that they need a man to achieve happiness or success.

In 'The Little Mermaid', Ariel gives up everything for a chance to be with a man she barely knows.

A study indicates that girls with lower body image are more attracted to princess culture.

Increased engagement with princess culture can lead to more stereotypical feminine behavior.

Stereotypical female behavior can be problematic if it limits girls' life opportunities due to gender stereotypes.

Diverse princesses can show girls that they don't have to conform to traditional femininity.

Examples of diverse princesses include Elsa, who doesn't need a man by the end of 'Frozen'.

Mulan disguises as a man and goes to war to protect her country, challenging gender norms.

In 'Brave', the princess wins her own hand in marriage and saves her family, demonstrating independence.

The importance of representation in media for young girls to see role models that look like them.

The need for more diverse and empowering portrayals of princesses in Disney movies.

The potential impact of princess culture on girls' self-esteem and gender role expectations.