Children listen to Disney. What are they hearing - and from whom?

The general public rarely thinks critically about song lyrics, but most decent adults who read the lyrics to Ursula’s “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid would express alarm that their sons and daughters are exposed to those messages during such a formative age. Some of the most distressing lines include “it’s much preferred for ladies not to say a word” and “it’s she who holds her tongue who gets a man.” 

While those specific lyrics are unique to one Disney princess movie, Disney as a franchise seems to have embraced the silencing of women (characters). Ironically, the three original Disney princess movies (Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) did not have as large of a problem with female dialogue as the movies which followed them. When The Little Mermaid was released after a several decade-long interval from the three classics, it was the first princess movie where a minority of the dialogue was spoken by women. That movie began a pattern of Disney princess movies containing a male-dominated script, with movies from the last several decades, particularly the 90's, almost entirely carried by male characters. This sounds strange, as the movies are, after all, princess movies, and the main character of every single one of them is a woman. However, the problem arises when creating characters aside from the lead; it has become ritual for additional characters to automatically be male, undoubtedly a consequence of the fact that male is considered the norm in our society. This, obviously, leads to a highly disproportionate amount of male dialogue, despite the subject of the movie.

Gender inequity in movie scripts has severe consequences for their young viewers. Disney has inspired young girls to become obsessed with princesses, but the movies it produces are rarely exemplary models of the role that women should have in the world. However, there is no doubt that the messages behind the words spoken have improved over time. During the three original princess movies, over half of the compliments received by female characters were regarding their appearance, far outnumbering those relating to their talents and strengths. Fortunately, this trend is beginning to change. Movies such as “Brave” and Frozen” are more likely to include compliments geared towards female characters that relate to their non-physical attributes than their appearance, rather than the other way around. While the compliments about skills are now more prevalent, they still do not compose even half of the accolades received by women, demonstrating that Disney still has work to do in ensuring the positive and empowering portrayal of women characters.

Hopefully, the tables are beginning to turn. It is certainly important to note that “Brave” and “Frozen,” both of which had less of an emphasis on romance, and instead on strong female relationships, were both written and directed by women. This pattern shows the true importance of female representation in every aspect of life. With women making decisions about the portrayal of women, that portrayal improved. It is critical that Disney continues to allow women to have a greater role in the production of Disney princess movies. Children are listening – not only to the words being said, but also to who is saying them. Disney has a responsibility to use their massive platform as a means of encouraging young girls and boys to develop into people who value and respect women for everything they offer to any society of which they are a part.

     Guo, Jeff. “Researchers have found a major problem with 'The Little Mermaid' and other Disney movies.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 25 Jan. 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/25/researchers-have-discovered-a-major-problem-with-the-little-mermaid-and-other-disney-movies/?utm_term=.2979d1b67644.