The Influence Of Toys In Disney

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As a child, a toy is more than just something to play with, it becomes a friend and a companion. Toys play a crucial role in children's lives because this is what begins to shape their ideals. But where is the desire for these toys coming from? From the day they are born children are being marketed to and sold on these toys. Every interaction the child has is sending them messages, whether implicit or explicit, to want this toy or item. They may see another child with a truck, or a Barbie and want that one. They may be watching television by themselves, or even with mom and dad, and see something being played with by happy smiling children and have the desire for that same experience. Even when it comes to parents talking about what clothes the child should be wearing because they are not old enough to choose for themselves, children are being taught, and sold on everything. It is from this age that children are learning about the toys that are appropriate for their gender not only from friends and parents, but through the media and big corporations as well. Companies such as Nickelodeon, Mattel, Toys R' Us, Tonka, Tyco and many more are instilling these old ideals into children's heads and selling them on generic gender biased toys and clothing. Out of all those companies however, by far the worst company continuing stereotypical gender perceptions is Disney. For the past twenty five years, Disney has been perpetuating these gender roles and ideals through every movie, film, and cartoon they have produced. Through the remainder of this paper, I will walk you through the up and coming issue of "Princess Culture", the psychology of selling through colors, typical types of toys and gender-neutral toys.
Walking down one of the toy ...

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...ulture' Disney was forced to try and make a change with one movie. This movie is "Frozen". 'Frozen' is the first Disney moving offering not one but two big-eyed princesses for this generation of young girls to become enamored with. Although this can be looked at as just smart marketing, it also allows the film’s story to explore dynamics and move into a story lines previously unavailable prior Disney movies. Rather than tell another textbook Disney movie about that one special girl who has animal sidekicks and follows a linear progression towards a male counterpart, Frozen is about two sisters and their relationship. The central question in the film is not whether Anna or Elsa will find men to marry, but whether they can save their own strained relationship. It’s not just bucking tradition by featuring strong females, but by focusing on strong female relationships.

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