Ensayos En Ingles

Stereotypes of Gender against Women

Throughout history, women have been discriminated against in our society. At times, they have been considered the weaker sex and also, they have been expected to do work that only demands low responsibility. These responsibilities may include: housework, being a good wife and mother. However, the world’s perspective towards women has had significant changes, and companies like Walt Disney Production are still generating stereotypes of gender against women in their films such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Mulan.

Media is frequently responsible of encouraging these patterns by the way they show their information and entertainment to the audience. Laura Mulvey, a British feminist film theorist, is best known for her essay, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema” which was published in 1975. Here, she describes the role of women in movies “as a tool of attraction for the male gaze” (Mulvey). According to Mulvey’s statement, this work aims to describe the stereotypes of gender that Disney films display throughout their past productions. It also shows how the films can affect everyday lives.

Over decades, these cartoons have been criticized for illustrating the traditional American and European values, thus creating stereotypes, which are often not a clear image of the current situation in our society. One of the most discussed topics in the animated features of Walt Disney Productions is the stereotype of gender against women. It displays women taking part in more traditional roles in society domestics and the act of being a good housewife. In fact, Litsa Tanner has said that “traditionally, women in Disney films have existed only to illustrate beauty and virtue, to be rescued by men, to fall in love and being a lovely mother” (Tanner 355-373).

Women in Disney films appear to be in need of a male figure in order to achieve their dreams. They tend to show the women in an initial state of misery, sadness or misfortune, but after meeting the "Prince Charming" their situation goes into a state of pure happiness. By creating this state of pure happiness, Disney finishes the film with a “happy ever after” feeling. Disney films always show that the men are the hero of the story, they are strong and smart, and who have a role of a savior. Also, in most cases, they are responsible for awakening, reviving, or saving the women who acts as damsels in distress. The traditional view of gender shows that women have been growing up with the idea that the only way to be part of the society is if they have good manners, know how to clean and cook and also, if they have problems, then men are the only ones who can save them.

Disney princess films began with the production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. Another classic that soon followed was Cinderella in 1950, and some years later Beauty and the Beast in 1991, and Mulan in 1998 were created. These films of Disney have a special focus on the idea of how stereotypes of gender are generated.

The first, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has the main character’s appearance come off as a beautiful princess with delicate and angelic appearance. Snow White has a sweet and loyal character, despite the fact that she is treated very badly by her stepmother (beautiful but evil). In this movie, we see clearly the stereotype that represents women in the early twentieth century. Snow White is a young housewife that all she can do, which shows throughout the whole movie, is cleaning, ironing, washing and cooking. She is a dreamy and romantic young girl, who is awaiting the arrival of her prince charming to be able to live “happily ever after”. It should be emphasized that these beautiful girls could not do the job by themselves, in the case of Snow White, she has seven dwarves who help and care for her while she is alone and in hiding from her evil stepmother.

The second one is the story about a beautiful and kind girl named Cinderella. She is a girl who was forced to do all the housework, handedly, like a servant. She lived in a very luxurious mansion with her stepmother, and her two stepsisters, however, like Snow White, Cinderella did not do anything to reverse this situation; therefore, she accepted her life in a submissive way. On the other hand, is important to remember that Cinderella was described as a beautiful girl with a tiny waist, blond hair, and blue eyes. Based on the how she was designed, the image created strife against women because of the Disney movies. This is a big problem today, since young girls begin to believe that to be able to find happiness and love of a man, they must have the

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