The Rise of the Androgynous Princess: Examining Representations of Gender in Prince and Princess Characters of Disney Movies Released 2009–2016

Benjamin Hine, Dawn England, Katie Lopreore, Elizabeth Skora Horgan and Lisa Hartwell
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Benjamin Hine: Department of Psychology, University of West London, St Mary’s Road, London W5 5RF, UK
Dawn England: School of Health and Education, Middlesex University Dubai, Knowledge Park, Block 16, Dubai, UAE
Katie Lopreore: Department of Nursing, Middle Tennessee University, 13-1 E Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
Elizabeth Skora Horgan: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Lisa Hartwell: Master’s Counseling Department, Messiah College, One College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, USA

Social Sciences, 2018, vol. 7, issue 12, 1-23

Abstract: Previous quantitative research examining Disney movies has highlighted that whilst prince characters display largely balanced gender profiles, princesses exhibit biased gender role portrayals—performing mostly feminine characteristics, rarely participating in rescue behavior, and concluding movies in romantic relationships with the prince. However, such research, as well as public commentary, has also suggested that princess characters in movies released across the 2000s and 2010s may have more positive gender role portrayals. This study aimed to test these assertions by utilizing content coding analysis to examine the behavioral characteristics, rescue behavior, and romantic conclusions of prince and princess characters in five iconic Disney films released between 2009 and 2016 ( The Princess and the Frog , Tangled , Brave (released under Pixar), Frozen , and Moana ). Comparisons were also made with earlier titles to assess historical changes. Results showed that princesses in “2000s to 2010s” movies exhibited an almost equal number of masculine and feminine behaviors, thus demonstrating more egalitarian profiles over time. In contrast, princes appeared to adopt a more feminine behavioral profile in later movies. In addition, characters engaged in equal numbers of rescue behaviors, and princesses were more likely to remain single in “2000s to 2010s” movies. Results therefore suggest that Disney is indeed presenting more diverse, androgynous, balanced characters to viewers, and the theoretical and practical implications for the socialization of young child viewers are discussed.

Keywords: Disney; princess; prince; gender roles; content coding analysis; children’s media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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