Differing Effects of Disney Princess Movies on Boys and Girls’ Body Image

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The primary intended audience of Disney princess movies may be young children, but the lasting effects of messages portrayed in the films influence viewers far past their early years. The vast majority of young girls and boys are exposed to Disney princesses, with a small gender gap between the two groups (87% of boys and 96% of girls). Despite similar numbers of subjection to the entertainment medium, only 4% of boys interact with corresponding toys, compared to 61% of girls. However, while boys may be less socialized with the films, apart from watching them, they still absorb several lessons about masculinity from the films' portrayal of men. A study performed at Brigham Young University illustrated that boys’ exposure to the princess films, where women are nearly always accompanied by tall, handsome, and strong male companions, boosts their self-confidence.
 

The movies, each with female characters as the lead, actually have the opposite effect on young female viewers. The incredibly unrealistic figures of Disney princesses, with the width between their eyes almost always larger than their waists, contributes to the development of girls’ low self-esteem. In fact, the disproportionate number of girls suffering from depression, eating disorders, and anxiety is largely impacted by exposure to Disney princesses during the brain’s most formative years.



Salyer, Kirsten. “Are Disney Princesses Hurting Your Daughter's Self-Esteem?” Time Culture, Time            Magazine, 22 June 2016, time.com/4378119/disney-princess-effect-on-girls/.


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