Reflection #3

For this class, Decoding Disney, I chose to write my first essay on the villainy that is society and the gendered stereotyped present in Mulan. Like I have stated in prior blog posts, this class has forced me to feel a myriad of emotions. Reading articles by authors such as Giroux, Forbes, and Warner for the first time, authors that are extremely critical of Disney, I was at first naturally shocked. Growing up visiting the theme parks, wearing clothes with Disney characters, and religiously watching Disney movies and television shows, how can you not be shocked. I felt deceived. It’s like finding out your adopted. I guess not that intense, but you get my gist. This feeling of shock quickly transitioned to a deep anger. I grew angry for I felt stupid for buying into their seemingly innocent identity, and I mean “buying in” both literally and figuratively. I felt swindled. Now I am just infatuated with the underlying messages proliferating Disney films, I no longer maintain any animosity. I find underlying gendered stereotypes especially interesting because my sisters were such big Disney fans.

For my second essay in this class I am choosing to respond to “Gender Role Portrayal and the Disney Princesses” by Dawn Elizabeth England, Lara Descartes, and Melissa Collier-Meek. The topic of the essay, gendered stereotypes in Disney products, has captivated me. The essay conducts an original study through content coded analysis that analyzes the development of Disney princesses over time. One of the three hypotheses made was that the gender role portrayal of Disney princesses would become more egalitarian over time.

While in every film the princesses demonstrated more feminine traits than masculine traits, as time progressed princesses demonstrated more and more masculine traits. There hasn’t been a Disney princess movie yet, to my knowledge at least, that has had a princess that portrayed more masculine characteristics than feminine characteristics. Although the authors cite that there are still gendered stereotypes littering even the most recent Disney princess films, they ultimately claim that the evidence confirms their hypothesis that Disney films have portrayed more egalitarian gender roles as time has moved on.

I would have to disagree with the confirmation of such a hypothesis. By giving the princess some characteristics that three scholars associate with being masculine does not make the portrayal of gender roles more egalitarian. To associate a more egalitarian approach to the portrayal of gender roles with allotting Disney princesses with more masculine qualities in my opinion is offensive. Additionally, Disney makes these princesses more masculine but then they are disparaged for not acting like the stereotypical princess Disney would rather continue to create.

In movies released as recent as Pocahontas and Mulan, the princesses both posses more masculine attributes than any previous Disney princess. However, both characters don’t fit the mold that their respective societies have created for the two princesses; well, I guess Disney really created these molds for them. In Mulan, Mulan is independent and assertive, yet it is explicit from the start with Mulan’s father praying that Mulan will impress a matchmaker, for Mulan’s role in society is as a bride and nothing more. 

Additionally, Pocahontas is a free-spirited and independent woman; she possesses the most masculine characteristics of any Disney princess. However, she is made out to be an object by her father, the chief of the village. Pocahontas’ father makes her feel pressured to marry a successful warrior by referring to her dead mother and how honorable her role as his wife was. 

Due to their oppressive societies both characters are often shunned for being different. Mulan’s father tells her she has brought great dishonor to the family for speaking to a man, the emperor’s counselor, without being spoken to.

 

Additionally, Pocahontas’ father says she has shamed the family for leaving their village.

 

Pretty serious words for offenses as minor as speaking without being spoken to and sneaking out.

Overall, I disagree with England, Descartes, and Collier-Meek’s conclusion that the Disney princess line’s portrayal of Disney roles has grown more egalitarian over time. In my opinion, if we classify more masculine characteristics for woman more egalitarian, Disney has made a half-hearted attempt to convey a trend towards a more egalitarian portrayal of gender roles.