How Does Disney Stereotypes Affect Children

The effects of Disney Characters on Child Development

Now more than ever external influences have a major influence on how children’s actions cognitive development and emotional wellbeing. Research has proven that by the time children enter elementary school, they have already developed negative perceptions of older adults. Stereotypes arise in children's lives from different experiences in their daily lives. One of the main external influences, which affect children, is media. The media is one of the many sources that contribute to the development of stereo types. With technology currently being so readily available and easy to access movies are easily accessible and used often to entertain

The aim of the study is to examine longitudinal connections between exposure to Disney Princess media and gender-stereotypical behavior, body esteem, and prosocial behavior seen in preschool and kindergarten age children. Children were examined and interviewed twice with both times being a year apart. According to the research, girls are found to be much more likely than boys to engage with Disney Princesses through viewing media, playing with toys, and identifying with princesses. Disney Princess engagement was also extremely stable across a 1- year period, for both boys and girls. Princess engagement found to be related to higher levels of female gender-stereotypical behaviors for both boys and girls. There were no effects on male gender-stereotypical behavior, concurrently or longitudinally for either boys or girls. These findings support the research found in the article we read in class and bring a lot of awareness to the consequences of having all Disney females displayed one way. Parent mediation was also included in the study. Research explored whether parental active mediation would moderate the effects of princess engagement on young children. This included parents discussing media content with children.

I personally can remember watching Pocahontas and seeing the talking tree Grandma Willow as wise and caring. This did take part in me developing a stereo type that grandmothers are kind loving and accepting of their grandchildren. This positive stereo type can also be seen in other Disney films including Moana and Mulan. This stereo type was also increased due to the behaviors of real grandmother’s that I actually know. I believe that if I did not encounter older women who have the same characteristics has Grandma Willow I would not have maintained the same perception. I question whether the issue is that Disney is causing children to develop negative stereo types or are people actually living up to these stereo types. From my own observation, many of the older characters are displaying realistic actions and mannerisms that can be seen in older adults