User:SleepingInBootHill/sandbox

Update: I am going to focus primarily on what stereotypes are actually presented in the Disney media for my Wikipedia contribution.

Questions: What stereotypes are displayed in Disney media? How often are children exposed to said media? How do male characters differ from female ones? What does a princess typically look like? Are there any concrete studies showing effects? How is this media criticized?

Focusing on this topic will allow me to steer clear of original research and correlation. (correlation does not mean causation!!!) I will focus on my original research question for our research paper at the end of the semester!

I want to research the effect of gender stereotypes in children's movies on young children.

I believe that there is a correlation between movies and children's actions and beliefs about themselves. I think that I will find out that movies have a strong impact on the lives of children, especially young girls.

So, my research question will be "Do children's movies, especially Disney ones, impact and/or influence children in any way by reinforcing gender stereotypes?"

I will be trying to answer these sub-questions:

1-What percent of young children (girls) are exposed to Disney media? What kinds of movies are being played at daycares and preschools?

2- Is there evidence to prove that princesses in movies influence young girls?

3- Has Disney been changing with the times and trying to make their characters less gender stereotypical?

4- Are boys affected by gender stereotypes in movies? Does it introduce sexist ideas to them at a young age?

5- Do all children respond the same to the movies? What about children of different races?

6- How do different movies companies deal with these gender stereotypes?

7- I have heard a phrase "raise boys and girls the same way" cycling around our society. In what ways does this apply to media?

Here are some articles I might consider editing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_The_Walt_Disney_Company

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Princess#Feminist_reception

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_roles_in_childhood#Stereotypes_in_the_media

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_and_gender

These articles are all notable as Disney is a very popular and established company. Also, gender stereotypes and how they are evolving is a current topic in our society. The last article has the least information on it, and this is probably the one that I will add stuff to.

Resources that I might be using:

Golden, Julia C, and Jennifer Wallace Jacoby. “Playing Princess: Preschool Girls’ Interpretations of Gender Stereotypes in Disney Princess Media.” Sex Roles : A Journal of Research, vol. 79, no. 5-6, 2018, pp. 299–313., doi:10.1007/s11199-017-0773-8.

Coyne, Sarah M, et al. “Pretty As a Princess: Longitudinal Effects of Engagement with Disney Princesses on Gender Stereotypes, Body Esteem, and Prosocial Behavior in Children.” Child Development, vol. 87, no. 6, 2016, pp. 1909–1925., doi:10.1111/cdev.12569.

Wohlwend, Karen E. “Damsels in Discourse: Girls Consuming and Producing Identity Texts through Disney Princess Play.” Reading Research Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 1, 2009, pp. 57–83., doi:10.1598/RRQ.44.1.3.

Faherty, Vincent E. “Is the Mouse Sensitive? A Study of Race, Gender, and Social Vulnerability in Disney Animated Films.” Simile: Studies in Media & Information Literacy Education, vol. 1, no. 3, 2001, pp. 1–8. doi:10.3138/sim.1.3.001. Accessed 2 Oct. 2019.

HIGGS, SAM. “Damsels in Development REPRESENTATION, TRANSITION AND THE DISNEY PRINCESS.” Screen Education, no. 83, Spring 2016, pp. 62–69. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=118191998&site=ehost-live.

Tatangelo, Gemma, et al. “A Systematic Review of Body Dissatisfaction and Sociocultural Messages Related to the Body among Preschool Children.” Body Image, vol. 34, Jan. 2018, pp. 173–183., doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.06.003.

Ostman, R. (1996). Disney and its conservative critics. Journal of Popular Film & Television, 24(2), 82-89.

ARTS, FINE. "Disney’s Renaissance Era: The Evolution of Female Heroines in the 1990s."

Johnson, Rachael Michelle. "The Evolution of Disney Princesses and their Effect on Body Image, Gender Roles, and the Portrayal of Love." Educational Specialist 6 (2015).

Yzaguirre, Christine M. "A whole new world? The evolution of Disney animated heroines from Snow White to Mulan." (2006).

Hefner, Veronica, et al. “Happily Ever After? A Content Analysis of Romantic Ideals in Disney Princess Films.” Communication Studies, vol. 68, no. 5, 2017, pp. 511–532., doi:10.1080/10510974.2017.1365092.

My Wiki Contribution:

Children are exposed to Disney media through both film and retail products. In 2015, Disney made $2.64 billion in global retail sales. Through these films and products, Disney portrays distinct gender roles. Parents tend to view Disney Princess media as a safe choice for their children compared to more sexualized media characters and programs. Some parents proceed with caution when it comes to Disney media as Disney has fostered criticism for glamorizing its characters, creating female protagonists who need to be saved by men, and adding sexual subliminal messaging.

In 19 Disney movies (The Lion King, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Aladdin, Cinderella, Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Bambi, Pocahontas, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, The Fox and the Hound, Pinocchio, Lady and the Tramp, Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Mulan (1998), and Tarzan (1999)), it was found that males made up 63% of Disney characters while females made up 28%. The other 9% was comprised of characters whose gender could not be determined. Disney female characters were six times more likely to partake in housework than their male counterparts. Also, the average princess is young and beautiful with large eyes, a small nose and chin, bigger breasts, a thin body type, and good skin. In research done on the effects of Disney characters, results have shown that as early as preschool, children begin to demonstrate a preference for thin body figures. Girls around 5 and older display worries about getting fat and begin to experience issues with body esteem.

Educational researchers studied children in kindergarten to see how Disney media affected children’s play time. Disney media toys encourage children to role play through repeating familiar scripts and characters that they have seen in Disney programs. This sets literary limits and social boundaries for the children as they repeat similar dialogue, plot points, and character roles. This also means that Disney Princess toys influence children's behavior by conveying subtle narratives about both identity and status as they often reflect societal beliefs about both gender and childhood.

Disney has three distinct eras of princesses—classical, renaissance, and revival. Each of these eras portray distinct stereotypes. The Classical Princesses include Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora. These films were created during a time where family values and the idea of a housewife was present in American society. These characters have domestic lifestyles and are described as innocent and pure, often being associated with flowers (roses). The Renaissance Princesses include Ariel, Belle, and Mulan. This era coincided with third-wave feminism. The princesses are seen fighting their patriarchal systems and tend to be less passive, but they still reinforce many of the same values. They are still highly praised for their beauty, and a large emphasis remains on finding true love. The Revival Princesses are Tiana, Merida, and Rapunzel. These protagonists are more independent and intelligent, but they are often viewed as odd or crazy, such as Tiana, for having a dream and vision for their lives. These characters may be modern, hardworking, and independent, but their societies are not thus weakening these personality traits.