Abstract:
Over a period of time, the discussion related to gender roles has changed which in turn has transformed gender stereotyping in Disney Princess Films. Still the gender stereotyping is seen as a prevalent problem which may have led to counter stereotyping. By using quantitative content analysis, this study analyzes the latest live-action Disney Princess films to examine how gender stereotyping has transformed and how it is being controlled by their locus of control. Content coding analyses demonstrate that all of the movies portray some counter stereotypical representations, including the most recent film, Cinderella. Live-action Disney princess movies has amplified the discourse of emphasized traditional traits. Although both the male and female protagonists’ roles and stereotypes have changed in the live-action Disney Princess line, the male evinced more change than the female protagonists and were more androgynous throughout. The female protagonists retained their traditionalism, and were rewarded for that, but also expanded to incorporate some untraditional traits. Live-action Disney princess movies portray protagonists to be playing an active role in their own destinies as they significantly control happening and its outcome instead of external factors.
