Have you ever thought about how we’re socialized to assume gender roles and the way we think about gender roles? We often assume the roles of our gender to what society has led us to believe is correct. Women are seen as caregivers, house keepers, submissive and have a certain body image to uphold. Men are seen as protectors, breadwinners, aggressive and macho. And when you think about it, we hold these views true with how we act and speak without even knowing it at times.
In my Social Work 233 class we watched a video about Disney movies and how they used socialized gender roles as a cultural message. If you notice in almost every Disney movie, women are portrayed to be beautiful and uphold an unrealistic standard for women in society. They are also often portrayed as submissive, caregivers, and focus on their bodies to get what they want. Men in Disney movies are mostly seen as strong, protectors and rescuers of women in distress and sometimes aggressive.
Don’t believe me? Watch the movie The Little Mermaid again, King Triton is portrayed as aggressive and strong towards Aerial. In The Beauty and the Beast, both Gaston and the Beast are seen as aggressive and strong. Later, the Beast is seen as a protector and rescuer of Belle. In Aladdin, the scene where Jasmine pretends to be interested in J’far to help Aladdin get the lamp, Jasmine uses her body and seductress, to have J’far look away and pay attention to her. And in every single one of these movies, the woman always has a certain body image. Big chest, little waist and nice sized hips. And all are wearing make-up.
These types of messages are directed to children of today’s society to help form their views of how they are to act and think in society. Not to dis Disney or anything cause I love Disney, but it’s something to think about. The media has a strong impact on our behaviors and views, even starting among children.
Socialization of Disney
By tabilw - Posted on October 24th, 2008
about what you said, and I'll do you one better - In The Little Mermaid, Ariel is supposed to get her man. But how does she do it? Not with her words, not her thoughts, her ideas. "You'll have your looks, your pretty face, and don't underestimate the importance of body language!...yes up on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word and after all, dear, what is idle prattle for?" (That was from the song that Ursula sang to Ariel while convincing her to take the spell.) She is supposed to get her man through being pretty! Ugh!
And another word about that movie - which, like you, tabilw, I love. URSULA, is the strong woman in that movie. A conniving manipulative UGLY b*tch! She's the strong one, sending the message that - if you're stong, you'll be ugly.
On a side note, however, the woman that sang Ursula's part kicked to much tail she needs special shoes.
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sahara
It really was not Disney that started all of this. These plots were based off other older tales i.e. Grimm Brothers , and Arabian Nights.
might be that these stories were based on tales told a long, long time before the woman's rights movement.
but there are others you should add to the list. Mulan must pretend to be masculine in order to be a hero, and Meg in their version of Hercules is using the hero for most of the movie to get what she wants.
"when you hold a pen, you are at war" Attributed to Voltaire
But then again, look at some of the independent female characters, although they are mostly from more recent movies. Belle is smart, and doesn't care what others think about her. She gets the beast because he likes being with her and they have helped each other. Jasmine wanted more than an easy life where being pretty was all that mattered.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
And yes, these ideas are certainly present in older movies, even the ones that came out during our lifetime. However, it appears Disney is making an effort to change. For example, the original Freaky Friday the mom was a house keeper, the more recent one a therapist and originally a single mom who was responsible for raising the kids.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
This stuff is everywhere in our society. It starts when you are born. Little girls are dressed up like in pink like princesses. I am amazed how many baby girls I see with pierced ears. Is that to make them sexy?. And little boys get dressed up like sailors and cowboys and whatnot.
Parents generally want their little girls femine and their little boys masculine. Remember that it is parents that make their children's movie viewing going decisions and Disney would not have enjoyed enormous economic success with these kinds of movies if parents did not totally approve of them.
People have known about the strong socialization (and other) messages in Disney movies for a long time. I approve of some of these messages and think others are harmful. But generally I think Disney has had a hugely positive message and of all the things in society that parents need to worry about, they are about the least of the problem.
I never would have pegged you as someone who favored Disney.
And by the way, are you stalking me? Just kidding. But really, you seem to be posting on a lot of the same blogs as I am.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
I'm not stalking you. I post on a lot of blogs and most of them you are not posting on.
I'm rather indifferent to Disney. I recognize that have had some effect on society. Mainly I see them as a business that is pretty good at what they do and have managed to create enduring products that people like.
I think it is wierd that people choose Disney to talk about, and usually in a mostly negative context, when they are discussing socialization messages. We've had a few of these Disney blogs recently.
I think there are more interesting topics along these lines. Consider Sesame Street. Have you ever noticed that the characters are about 4:1 male to female and that almost all of them are kind of asexual? Perhaps Disney over-plays the sexual difference thing but to barely even acknowledge that there are sexes and that there are fairly obvious differences between them is a lot wierder. With most characters playing some sort of male role I wonder if that does not send some sort of message that qualities and traits that we generally associate with females are less valued? Or how about MTV and the social message it sends? In my opinion it basically encourages girls to be sluts and guys to be punks. Disney tries to work a fair amount of uplifting themes into their work but I'm not sure that MTV has a single redeeming quality.
I think Disney gets picked on so much because it has such a presence in kids lives. The past few generations have witnessed many disney movies and it is shown to kids at a young and impressionable age, when brainwashing is thought to be most effective. That's why MTV isn't really touched upon, as its viewers have already formed opinions on what is male and female.
As for Sesame Street, its been awhile since I've watched it, but it seems that most characters in PBS shows for children seem to be asexual. I guess because the focus is less on social development and more on simple concepts such as colors, shapes, etc.
And as the "just kidding" implied that my last statement was a joke, I obviously don't think you're stalking me. But when I checked recent feeds, some of which were on blogs that have been dormat for some time, you seemed to have commented on three out of four of them. I just thought that was ironic.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711