Doubting Disney

The Disney Princesses
image source: proprofs

What do these six girls have in common?

1. They are created by the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world.
2. They present heroine characters which are likable, wholesome, virtuos and successful
3. They are thin.

In a study to determine at what age young girls had a desire for thinness, the British Journal of Health Psychology from May 2003 concluded that the age in young girls was approximately age 6 (Lowes and Tiggemann, 2003). There is a growing concern about the messages that are delivered to young female viewers through the popular media they are exposed to. A primary example of this is Animated films (Travail 2007).

In almost all Disney movies the main, female character is depicted with a petite waistline, thin arms and legs, perfect womanly curves, proportioned facial structures and flawless skin … in other words, the idealized image of the female body type. The same goes for other movies, cartoons, television shows and children’s toys. This image could be a prime factor in problems later in life, such as body dissatisfaction and teenage eating disorders and depression (Travail 2007). “Girls developed eating disorders when our culture developed a standard of beauty they couldn't obtain by being healthy. They have been culturally conditioned to hate their bodies which are, after all, themselves.” (Dr. Pipher cited in Travail 2007)

Donna E. Shalala, Secretary, Department
of Health and Human Services
“Girls today look to the most powerful mirror we have,
the mirror of popular culture. They say, tell
us who we are and who we should be. But
too often they are seeing that they don't
measure up to the images that have been
created for them. Too often they see that
they are not good enough or thin enough
or pretty enough”. (Signorielli 1997)

National Institute on Media and the Family performed a study in 1996 in which found that the amount of time a young person watches movies and television is positively associated with the degree of body dissatisfaction they present as well as a desire to be thin. Perhaps by observing, associating and idolizing the central heroines in Disney films a young girl may effectively suffer from body dissatisfaction as attempts to look like the characters in the film is merely impossible (Travail 1997).

In Disney’s film The Little Mermaid Ariel the leading “good” character is presented as youthful, pretty and thin. In contract Ursula the “bad” evil character is seen as overweight and unattractive (Travail 1997). "Disney's representations of evil women and good women appear to have been fashioned in the editorial office of Vogue," and that Ariel, specifically, is "modeled after a slightly anorexic Barbie doll"(Giroux 34, 36 cited in Travail 1997)

Ursula takes Ariels voice - Scene from The Little Mermaid (1989)
source: youtube

Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to trade her voice for a pair of legs, Ursula tells of how she helps other 'merfolk' “this one’s longing to be thinner”. When Ariel asks what she will do without her voice, Ursula replies:
"You'll have your looks, your pretty face. And don't underestimate the importance of body language” (taken from scenes in The Little Mermaid 1989)
This scene sends a strong message about the importance of appearance. Ultimately, Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to trade her fins for a pair of legs because she is dissatisfied with her body and her identity, and believed this was the only way prince Eric would accept her, and marry her. This provides little girls with the message that in order to find love and happiness, one must change her identity in order to look like the "ideal" woman (Do-Rozario 49 cited in Travail 1997).

Young people are conditioned to idolize and have preference to these media stereotypes, whether it be in movies, cartoons, television shows or toys. It’s a vicious cycle, if media and other products presented models that were not conventionally attractive, they would be less popular, and obviously these companies would make less money. There for, they maintain this ideal which continues to influence younger generations. When Warner Brothers Television President Tony Jonas was asked why female TV characters always look like models. He said, “It's a very odd line to walk. We try to show empowered women but we also take advantage of the fact that they're beautiful, because that attracts men to watch as well. There are economics that drive some of these decisions.” Children Now Magazine

The body types seen in Disney characters such as Ariel are comparable to models in fashion magazines (The Media Awareness Network). These types suggest, and show girls that to feel beautiful, sexy and successful, they must become like the models. Girouz (1997) insists “Young girls identify with these heroines and act out their roles” These roles serve "as an influence on children's identity and action" that become "modes of communication and action within society” "(Giroux in Travali 1997). Travail (1997) proposes that central Disney heroines are role models to young girls, which set standards for which features they need to possess in order to be accepted.

Piran (2000) states “we’re seeing a homogenization and globalization of beauty ideals. It’s white. It’s thin. And the result is that people have come to identify less with their own cultures and more with an (Western) image in the media” (Piran cited in DeZon 2008 p. 41). It is suggested that if a young girl makes a connection between benevolent characters and the ideal rail-thin body type (as symbolized by each of the Disney Princesses), Disney films aggravate the average child's tendency to view overweight individuals in a negative light (Piran 1999).

Much research has shown that young people who regularly consume media images can become strongly influenced by them. A stereotypical image of uniformly beautiful and obsessively thin female in entertainment aimed at children is ever so common, Animations such as Disney present only part of the problem.


Next week: Barbie and body dissatisfaction.


References:

DeZon, B. (2008) "No Mirrors No Makeup, No Men, No Problem? A Rhetorical Analysis of Curves' Strategies for Membership" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the NCA 94th Annual Convention, TBA, San Diego, CA, Nov 20, 2008
viewed 15th September 2009
- Piran, N. (2000). The influence of media on body image. Special Issue of the "Healthy Weight Journal." New York: BC Decker. (cited in DeZon 2008)

Lowes, J, Tiggemann, M. (2003). Body dissatisfaction, dieting awareness and the impact of parental influence in young children. British Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 8 Issue 2. viewed 10th September

Piran, N., Levine, M., Steiner-Adair, C. (1999) Preventing eating disorders: a handbook of interventions and special, Psychology Press, 1999

Signorielli, N. (1997, April). Reflections of girls in the media: A two-part study on gender and media. Kaiser Family foundation and Children NOW
Viewed on 25th August 2009

Travali, D. (2007) Portrayal of the Female Body Image in Disney Films, AC associated Content, October 17, 2007 viewed 12th September 2009
- Giroux, Henry A. "Animating Youth: The Disneyfication of Children's Culture." Socialist Review 24.3 1994: 23. Proquest Direct. Manhattanville Coll. Lib., Purchase, NY. 28 Feb. 2005 (cited in Travali, 2007)