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Disney Gender Roles

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Deconstructing Gender Portrayals in Fairy Tales
In the essay of Grace DuGar, 'Passive and Active Masculinities in Disney's Fairy Tale Films' discussed how Disney fairy tale portrays masculinity as 'an object of female agency'. On contrary of what critics said on the negative portrayal of fairy tales to women, in her study reveals how masculinities in Disney's versions actually portrayed them inconsistently. First, she raised the argument that princes play small roles. Since Disney films featured the journey of the heroine, the prince was seen only as 'an accessory to the plot' as what also Zipes claimed (4). She argues how with misogyny of Disney is the misandry that accompanies it. Using the princes in classic fairy tale films, DuGar exposed …show more content…

Contrary to the Victoriean gender ideals of men, which is authoritative and independent, Disney presented the princes as passive and easily manipulated. The prince is ' either strapping young heroes, who are as one-dimensional as they are interchangeable' (9) which makes the prince lacks personality. The prince embodies the archetype of trophy-male: 'They are beautiful props— desirable to the princesses because of what they are, not who they are' (10). Here, it shows how men are also objectified, just like how beauty for princesses are a must. The trophy-male offered two things: social security and physical beauty (12). This gave the impression that the importance of wealth and beauty is more valuable than the personality, authority and individuality. Disney also shows the blurring of male authority in the fairy tale as the princes have little heroic acts. Snow White's prince used just a kiss to wake her. Prince Charming ordered his servants to find Cinderella, Prince Eric was saved by Ariel and Prince Philip was helped by the magical power of the fairies. It contradicts the notion that men are independent. DuGar presented the concept of the …show more content…

Cinderella reflected the image of subordination but it also explored the sense of dignity and realization (147). In this essay, Al-Barazenji discussed the polemic voices of women through the good and bad images in fairy tales. The struggles of Cinderella manifested through her silence. The transformation of her clothes from the torn dress to a magnificent sapphire ballroom dress depicted her realization of her dreams and hopes. The role stepmother in the tale acts as the contrast of another image of woman who made women realized and gave chance for the women to express their identity. On the other hand, Cinderella was seen as hoping for a man to rescue her. This gives the false image of independence: depending to the prince to swept them off their feet. Exploring the polar opposite of women is the wickedness of witches. They are represented as evil, ugly and ambitious. Evil witches that used magic to express their power and authority, even to men. Thus, ' The witch’s recognition of her power and voice confidently leads to improve her representation from marginalization to centralization as a triumphant feminist. By using various sorts of evil, witches used their magical power

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