The Male Heroes of Disney
HERCULES
Disney's 1997 animated film Hercules displays many stereotypes that could influence the film's main audience; children. Hercules starts out as a clumsy boy but soon transforms into society's constructed image of how a man should look and act. A man has to large and strong and ready to fight any danger that could harm himself or a woman. In the film he even insists on a saving a woman who clearly tells him that she has the situation under control. Also the fact that he is a god elevates his status even more into the successful, dominant male role.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Disney's The Beauty and The Beast released in 1991 has some of the most obvious and extreme stereotypes in perhaps out of all the Disney movies. Gaston is the rich bachelor that the entire village female population seems to drool over because he's big, strong, rich, and handsome. This right away forms an ideal image for men that they will only get women's attention by obtaining those attributes. Further in we have the Beast, Just the fact that he is a beast portrays the typical manly image; strong and tough with no emotion. He even begins to treat Belle like an object and shows clear dominance over her especially when he is trying to get her to eat dinner with him. He portrays violence in an attempt to make her submissive. Even the last scene in the movie has significance because when they fall in love, he changes back into a handsome human. Why couldn't their love continue in his beastly form? Of course only a handsome male could have a woman as perfect as Belle.
Disney's The Beauty and The Beast released in 1991 has some of the most obvious and extreme stereotypes in perhaps out of all the Disney movies. Gaston is the rich bachelor that the entire village female population seems to drool over because he's big, strong, rich, and handsome. This right away forms an ideal image for men that they will only get women's attention by obtaining those attributes. Further in we have the Beast, Just the fact that he is a beast portrays the typical manly image; strong and tough with no emotion. He even begins to treat Belle like an object and shows clear dominance over her especially when he is trying to get her to eat dinner with him. He portrays violence in an attempt to make her submissive. Even the last scene in the movie has significance because when they fall in love, he changes back into a handsome human. Why couldn't their love continue in his beastly form? Of course only a handsome male could have a woman as perfect as Belle.
PETER PAN
The two main male stereotypes in Peter Pan would be Peter Pan himself and the villainous Captain hook. Peter Pan is the dominant figure in his relationship with Wendy. Part of his mysticism and charm relate to his powers which inevitable gives him power over the female. You don't many, if any, characters who have powers over their male counter-part. Captain Hook portrays society's image on males as well. Having a hook for a hand indicates that he is tough and can handle living without a hand simply because he is a male.
The two main male stereotypes in Peter Pan would be Peter Pan himself and the villainous Captain hook. Peter Pan is the dominant figure in his relationship with Wendy. Part of his mysticism and charm relate to his powers which inevitable gives him power over the female. You don't many, if any, characters who have powers over their male counter-part. Captain Hook portrays society's image on males as well. Having a hook for a hand indicates that he is tough and can handle living without a hand simply because he is a male.
TANGLED
Flynn Rider portrays a different type of male stereotype in Disney's Tangled. Instead of the successful and dominant role he plays the thief role, while physically having the appearance and charm (the smolder) a prince would be expected to have. Crime is generally associated with males because males tend to be more violent. However, in this film he does fall in love with Rapunzel which may provide examples to children that being a thief is acceptable and you can still have a happily ever after while doing it.
Flynn Rider portrays a different type of male stereotype in Disney's Tangled. Instead of the successful and dominant role he plays the thief role, while physically having the appearance and charm (the smolder) a prince would be expected to have. Crime is generally associated with males because males tend to be more violent. However, in this film he does fall in love with Rapunzel which may provide examples to children that being a thief is acceptable and you can still have a happily ever after while doing it.
TARZAN
Tarzan's story shows a slightly different male stereotype than most of the other Disney films. The main stereotype portrayed is that a male should be able to protect everyone that he is close to. In this example, it would include Jane and his gorilla family. Simply because he is the male it is his sole responsibility to protect his family at all costs and if he fails he isn't considered a man. He must fend off wildlife as well as harmful humans to keep his male dominance. The most manly scene of the movie would have to be after he defeats the leopard where he holds its body over his head and lets out his classic Tarzan roar.
Tarzan's story shows a slightly different male stereotype than most of the other Disney films. The main stereotype portrayed is that a male should be able to protect everyone that he is close to. In this example, it would include Jane and his gorilla family. Simply because he is the male it is his sole responsibility to protect his family at all costs and if he fails he isn't considered a man. He must fend off wildlife as well as harmful humans to keep his male dominance. The most manly scene of the movie would have to be after he defeats the leopard where he holds its body over his head and lets out his classic Tarzan roar.
TOY STORY
Although Disney has made improvements in the Toy Story movies by adding the female powered character Jessie, they still have yet to abolish a majority of their gender stereotypes in this series. Each of the toys display their own form or representation of gender; Such as Buzz and Woody having authority over all the toys (which seems fit because they are both male). One scene that stands out would be when Ken and Barbie meet for the first time and the choice of words suggests the sexual tension between the two which displays that males should only be attracted to the clearly beautiful females.
Although Disney has made improvements in the Toy Story movies by adding the female powered character Jessie, they still have yet to abolish a majority of their gender stereotypes in this series. Each of the toys display their own form or representation of gender; Such as Buzz and Woody having authority over all the toys (which seems fit because they are both male). One scene that stands out would be when Ken and Barbie meet for the first time and the choice of words suggests the sexual tension between the two which displays that males should only be attracted to the clearly beautiful females.
ALADDIN
Aladdin follows the Disney trend of stereotypes by being handsome and fairly muscular. However, in his attempt to secure a relationship with Jasmine he transforms himself into a prince with the help of a genie. This reinforces the idea that women will only go for the rich or high class men. Especially the scene where the genie comments on how he needs to change him in order to be a prince. Children could easily be affected by this subtle trend that Disney displays repeatedly. Young boys will learn to associate love with good looks and success.
Aladdin follows the Disney trend of stereotypes by being handsome and fairly muscular. However, in his attempt to secure a relationship with Jasmine he transforms himself into a prince with the help of a genie. This reinforces the idea that women will only go for the rich or high class men. Especially the scene where the genie comments on how he needs to change him in order to be a prince. Children could easily be affected by this subtle trend that Disney displays repeatedly. Young boys will learn to associate love with good looks and success.
THE INCREDIBLES
You can see stereotypes that may arise in this film before even hitting play. There is a family of super heroes all with their own individual powers. Now we know that strength, speed, athleticism, are all dominate in male stereotypes while flexibility, transparency, and delicacy are associated with female stereotypes. So why were the male characters given the masculine powers and the female characters given the feminine powers? The movie trailer itself gives a hint at just how stereotyped the characters are.
You can see stereotypes that may arise in this film before even hitting play. There is a family of super heroes all with their own individual powers. Now we know that strength, speed, athleticism, are all dominate in male stereotypes while flexibility, transparency, and delicacy are associated with female stereotypes. So why were the male characters given the masculine powers and the female characters given the feminine powers? The movie trailer itself gives a hint at just how stereotyped the characters are.
THE LION KING
After the death of Simba's father in Disney's classic Lion King, the movie becomes a power struggle between the young lion and his evil uncle. Just before the fight scene between Simba and Scar there is a very important dialog between the two. It is not manly for males to admit what they did wrong or show emotional regret. When Simba confront Scar about murdering his father he blames it on his hyena accomplices (an external factor) rather than admitting what he did and apologizing.
After the death of Simba's father in Disney's classic Lion King, the movie becomes a power struggle between the young lion and his evil uncle. Just before the fight scene between Simba and Scar there is a very important dialog between the two. It is not manly for males to admit what they did wrong or show emotional regret. When Simba confront Scar about murdering his father he blames it on his hyena accomplices (an external factor) rather than admitting what he did and apologizing.
Wreck-it Ralph
While considering the normal gender stereotypes in this movie I actually came across an article which is far more subtle than the repeating stereotypes from Disney's older movies. This introduces a sense of homophobia and rejection of any homosexual traits of a male character. BlackBook Magazine's Tyler Coats discusses this in his article:
[Huffington Post blogger Chris Bogia, who
describes himself as "a 35-year-old gay man and life-long video gamer," shares
his disappointment that not only does the film's villain (the King Candy,
voiced by Alan Tudyk) seem like a gay stereotype, but the film's hero uses a
seemingly harmless, yet homophobic, slur to describe him:
After some limp-wristed gesticulating by our villain, Ralph grabs him, shakes
him, and calls the confectionary monarch a "nelly wafer" (it's like Nilla
Wafer, get it?)
"Nelly."
That word is hardly thrown around these days, and I'm sure most young kids
seeing Wreck-It Ralph wouldn't know what it means. However, when entered into
Google for anyone that didn't already know it's definition, here it is:
"Offensive Slang: Used as a disparaging term for an effeminate homosexual
man."
There's very little grey area here. The hero of the Disney animated movie I
just saw shook the mincing, effeminate villain and called him a homophobic slur
(after already insulting his decorating taste!).]
(Source: http://www.blackbookmag.com/movies/does-wreck-it-ralph-continue-a-disney-tradition-of-homophobia-1.55365)
While considering the normal gender stereotypes in this movie I actually came across an article which is far more subtle than the repeating stereotypes from Disney's older movies. This introduces a sense of homophobia and rejection of any homosexual traits of a male character. BlackBook Magazine's Tyler Coats discusses this in his article:
[Huffington Post blogger Chris Bogia, who
describes himself as "a 35-year-old gay man and life-long video gamer," shares
his disappointment that not only does the film's villain (the King Candy,
voiced by Alan Tudyk) seem like a gay stereotype, but the film's hero uses a
seemingly harmless, yet homophobic, slur to describe him:
After some limp-wristed gesticulating by our villain, Ralph grabs him, shakes
him, and calls the confectionary monarch a "nelly wafer" (it's like Nilla
Wafer, get it?)
"Nelly."
That word is hardly thrown around these days, and I'm sure most young kids
seeing Wreck-It Ralph wouldn't know what it means. However, when entered into
Google for anyone that didn't already know it's definition, here it is:
"Offensive Slang: Used as a disparaging term for an effeminate homosexual
man."
There's very little grey area here. The hero of the Disney animated movie I
just saw shook the mincing, effeminate villain and called him a homophobic slur
(after already insulting his decorating taste!).]
(Source: http://www.blackbookmag.com/movies/does-wreck-it-ralph-continue-a-disney-tradition-of-homophobia-1.55365)