Knorp 1

Alex Knorp
Dr. Parker
ENGL 113-03
4/25/15
England Critical Summary
In the study, Gender Role Portrayal and the Disney Princesses, Dawn Elizabeth
England reports the effect that the traditional gender roles demonstrated by the main male
and female character in each Disney princess movie has on the children that view them.
She compares characteristics such as physical strength, independence, athleticism, not
expressing emotion, bravery, leadership, and giving advice (masculine characteristics) to
helpfulness, tentativeness, emotional, caring about physical appearance, affectionate,
nurturing, and sensitive (feminine characteristics). Throughout her observations of the
evolution of gender role portrayal in Disney princess films from three different time
periods: earlier movies (1937-59), middle movies (1989-98), and the latest movie (2009),
England argues that children are affected by the characteristics that the characters
emulate, women more often possess characteristics that make them seem weak than men
do, and over time, the roles portrayed by men and women are becoming more egalitarian.
The organization in Englands research is easy to follow because it is set up in a
scientific way with subheadings that clearly display what each paragraph is going to be
about. She abides by the M.E.A.L. plan in her own way because she presents a
hypothesis that describes her argument, and she backs it up with data and evidence from
specific Disney movies that she follows with analysis. I strongly agree with Englands
first point that children are affected by the stereotypes so commonly shown in Disney
movies. England notes that there are, numerous examples of both sexism and racism in
the films, specifically noting the heroines extremely pale skin tones, small waists,
delicate limbs, and full breasts (556). Children perceive these appearances as what is
normal and begin to expect everyone to look that way. Many children become selfconscious that they are not good enough because they are different from their favorite
Disney characters. They also believe that the different actions between men and women
are normal and start to gender stereotype. They limit what they are able to do based on
their gender, and that is not how the world should be. Anyone should feel free to express
his or herself in anyway and should be equally accepted by society.
In her study, England determines that the characteristics that are considered
feminine make the women seem weak which reveals that people perceive women to be
weaker than men. In Disney films, female characters are much more likely to collapse
crying, show emotion, worry about appearance, and be timid than the male characters. It
is unjust for women to be given weak characteristics because women are not weak. Some
people would argue that being able to show emotion actually makes a person stronger.
The men always have the power in each movie and the women seem to be chosen by
him and obligingly fall in love (563). The men do not even do anything to earn the
affection of the princess. The princes in the films are usually the person that gets to show
up and save the day, even though they often have a minimal role in the film prior to the
final scene. England states that, No princess did a final rescue without the assistance of
the prince (561). The women in the films are never the strong, independent heroes, and

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that is not reflective of real life. Women are just as strong as men are, and they should be
portrayed as equals in Disney films.
England also argues that the roles and characteristics displayed by men and
women in Disney films are becoming more egalitarian which reveals that Americans are
becoming more accepting of untraditional gender roles. England notes that, The first
three Disney Princess movies depicted in general more gendered attributes for both the
princesses and princes than the five films produced after the 1980s (562). Although I
agree with England that Disney movies are taking steps toward equality, I believe that
there is still room for improvement. Disney is very influential in American society, and it
has a responsibility to portray positive messages and promote equality. Englands article
points out the injustices of gender discrimination and encourages the positive direction
we are moving in because she hopes for a society where women and men will be treated
as equals.

Work Cited
England, Dawn Elizabeth. Gender Role Portrayal and the Disney Princesses. Sex
Roles. Springer (Ed.), 64 (2011): 555-567. Online. February 10, 2011.