Disney and Gender Roles

The New Intimacy

Disney and Gender Roles

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Contributor: KyotoAngel KyotoAngel
Being the sort that actually likes traditional gender roles I don't find it that surprising really. Although I do think Disney may have heavily impacted my interest in such gender roles and even in BDSM.
I don't know to be honest, Disney was a huge part of my childhood so all my own memories of it are fond and happy.
It's only really now that I look back at the movies with a more knowledgeable adult mind that I notice all the sort of subliminal messaging in them.
01/08/2012
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
I don't know - I never saw Beauty and the Beast as Stockholm Syndrome, which so many people claim it is. The basic breakdown of the dynamics:

The Beast was a spoiled, pampered prince, cursed to take his bestial inner nature as outward form. He is surrounded by meekly fawning servants, who sometimes are a little stern with him, but usually just let him have his own way in everything he does. He does rage and storm at Belle, like he does at everyone else.

Then, Belle calls him on it. She runs away because his yelling scared her (when she snaps that he scared her, notice how shocked he is. He can't even think of a comeback, because it apparently never occurred to him that people were scared of his rages, rather than his looks). He begins shaping up when she makes it clear that his behavior has been absolutely unacceptable. It's giving a second chance, yes, but it takes his genuine effort to change to impress her and earn her love. That's also the key word throughout the story "Earn". In most of the older movies, it was "Win". Win her love, Win the prince, Win win win. Beast had to earn Belle's love by being a good man, and he was able to rise to the challenge.

Gaston, when given the opportunity to try to earn Belle's love, instead demands it. Belle is plain spoken to both of them about the aspects of their behavior that are unacceptable (Beast, his temper, Gaston, his anti-intellectualism). Beast takes stock of himself and decides to improve. Gaston ignores her ultimatum and pushes harder to try to win her by any means possible.

Maybe it's because when I was a young girl, my parents took the time to explain this to me, but I always thought that was a very female-positive message.
01/08/2012
Contributor: PDXlady PDXlady
Quote:
Originally posted by hyacinthgirl
I don't know - I never saw Beauty and the Beast as Stockholm Syndrome, which so many people claim it is. The basic breakdown of the dynamics:

The Beast was a spoiled, pampered prince, cursed to take his bestial inner nature as outward ... more
I'm sorry but I have to strongly disagree. The message I get from Beauty and the Beast is, even if he is abusive you should stand by your man because deep down he's really a sweet guy who loves you. I think that is a terribly message to be teaching young boys and girls! For starters we need to be teaching young boys that it is never ok to be physically or verbally abusive. We should also be teaching young girls that it is a good thing to get out of an abusive relationship.

As for the rest of the movies, well they piss me off just as much, especially The Little Mermaid.

Like most children I loved Disney movies as a child and I though they were magical (hell they still are!). I don't think that children should stop watching Disney movies but do think people need to have discussions with their children about why a lot of the messages promoted by them are wrong.
02/12/2012
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
Like I said, that's how my parents explained it to me. You can't say Beast was abusive to her in their relationship, because when he yelled at her, they were not in a relationship. It's made explicitly clear that they did not hit it off right away, and unlike most other Disney couples, they are not in love when the problems are shown. It's my personal opinion that the Beast did make an effort to change when he realized his behavior was unacceptable - made an effort to change and did change. Probably could have been hammered home if Belle made it clear that if he ever raised his voice to her again, she was gone. I think the movie should include an explanation to the children that once you make your boundaries clear, that supersedes everything else (If you say don't touch me there, it doesn't matter how often they assure you they love you. If you say don't yell, it doesn't matter how much they apologize afterwards). Beast didn't know it was wrong to yell and rage, because no one had ever told him otherwise. When he is told not to do it, he is able to become a civilized man. Disney's official explanation is that the Beast body had started to replace his humanity, and Belle was his key to rediscovery of humanity.

I actually think the domestic violence discussion on both sides needs to be taught to children of both genders - I've seen plenty of young women who smack around their boyfriends or call them names, while the boyfriend just silently accepts it. I've also seen the flipside.

Though I must give props to Disney for a good portrayal of an emotionally abusive parent-child relationship in 'Tangled', and not one so blatantly evil that it's insanely obvious from the beginning. Gothel's casual belittling of Rapunzel, the guilt trips, the demanding in exchange for very little, and the professions of love and jesting after insulting her child. If I ever have children, I'm going to use that movie as a good prototype for an emotionally abusive relationship and what to watch out for. If someone calls you names, then says they love you, they're not telling the truth.

Though I don't think any Western animation company has done a better job portraying an abusive relationship in all it's stages than Warner Brothers Animation in 'Batman: The Animated Series'. The episode 'Mad Love' is one of the best depictions of an abusive relationship on TV.
02/12/2012