Beyond the Magic: Unveiling the Influential Messages of Disney Princesses and Classic Fairy
Tales on Children’s Perceptions of Gender Roles and Societal Expectations.

Ever thought about the secret messages Disney princesses and fairy tales actually might be sending to the kids? It is just not disney portraying certain stereotypes, But also classic fairy tales like “Cinderella” and “ The Sleeping Beauty” by Charles Perrault are a popular fairy tale which reflects its significant influence on shaping children’s perceptions of gender roles, societal expectations for females, and the perpetuation of traditional gender stereotypes.These stories often considered innocent and magical, may hold deeper insights into the values and expectations they impart to the young minds.

Charles Perrault’s “The Sleeping Beauty In The Wood” is a classic “Sleeping Beauty” story. It starts with the happy birth of a princess named Aurora. Later, she pricks her finger and falls asleep because of a curse. A prince wakes her up with a kiss and they live happily ever after.According to the story, “ The sleeping beauty in the wood ”, It mentions that “ The Princess will prick her hand on a spindle, but instead of dying, she will fall into a deep sleep. It will last for a hundred years, and at the end of that time the son of a king will come to wake her.” (Perrault, 1 ). However, In the story, the prince awakens a sleeping beauty with a kiss without her consent. He did not care about taking permission which raises questions about personal boundaries. This is the version that everyone knows and is familiar with.

However, It is not only “The Sleeping Beauty”, But as well as “Cinderella” that hold significant influence in shaping how children perceive gender roles and societal expectations.”Cinderella,” A kind young woman mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. It goes beyond fantasy, and Cinderella’s magical transformation at the ball carries deeper meanings. The glass slipper becomes a symbol, highlighting not just the importance of appearance but also reinforcing traditional ideas of femininity. She does a makeover to look pretty for the prince charming and the prince charming happens to fall in love with her at the ball. In the story “ Cinderella, or The Little Slipper Made of Glass” mentions that “ She was taken to the young Prince, dressed as she was in all her fine clothes: he thought that she was more beautiful than ever, and a few days later he married her.” (Perrault, 139 )The tale suggests that a woman’s value is tied to her beauty and ability to meet societal expectations.

However, the author in “Happily Ever After? How Disney Princesses Represent Gender Role Stereotypes in Animated and Live Action Films” suggests that, “Typically the young princess completes chores under the distinct direction of their predecessors, as seen in Cinderella. For these classic princesses, marriage seems to be the only release from their duty-stricken lives.”(Brown 10) Which means that these fairy tales often portray young princesses burdened with chores and in these stories, marriage is the main escape from their duty-filled lives. This can send a limited message to children, implying that a woman’s path to happiness and relief from hardship is primarily through marriage, which can increase narrow stereotypes about females.

With children being easily influenced by the stories they encounter, these fairy tales have a notable effect, and are playing a huge role in having their mindset conflicted about gender stereotypes and societal expectations. Just like how every traditional fairy tale portrays the way females are meant to look beautiful and stay home, not get the proper education, and just do nothing until a man comes and saves them.Their whole life is based on finding a man to save them. In the book, “ Some Day My Prince Will Come”: Female Acculturation through the Fairy Tale”, says that “ Since the heroines are chosen for their beauty, not for anything they do, they seem to exist passively until they are seen by the hero, or described to him. They wait, are chosen, and are rewarded. Marriage is the fulcrum and major event of nearly every fairy tale, it is the reward for girls.” ( Lieberman 386). As always, the females often get married as a reward just because they’re seen as beautiful, showcasing a more passive role where they wait to be chosen.

Additionally, “ Not only do children find out what happens to the various princes and princesses, wood-cutters, witches, and children of their favorite tales, but they also learn behavioral and associational patterns, value systems and how to predict the consequences of specific acts or circumstances.” (Lieberman 384). Childrens not only discover the outcomes of fairy tales characters but also pick up on how people in the stories behave, the connections they form, and the values they follow. This extends to understanding the possible outcomes of actions or situations. This can influence how children perceive gender roles and societal expectations, molding their ideas about how people should act based on their gender and societal norms.

Moreover, Disney movies frequently present women in stereotypical roles, highlighting characteristics such as physical beauty, musical talent, obedience, passivity, and a focus on domestic responsibilities. According to Olof Wilén Rönquist “ From the movie, certain assumptions about women can be made, such as they are to be beautiful, sing and dance beautifully and be obedient and passive and care for the home. As an effect of this portrayal of women, feminists regard many Disney movies as directly harmful to children since they so strongly support male dominance.” (2) . This suggests that these portraits align with traditional expectations of how women should behave, reflecting potentially outdated societal norms. These specific portrayals of girls in Disney movies have negative effects on children. These depictions contribute to the idea that boys should always be in charge. The main concern is that repeatedly showing girls in certain roles throughout Disney movies could shape how kids think things
should be. This shows that classic fairy tales, including those from Disney, are sending manipulative messages about how boys and girls should behave. It’s like these stories are presenting particular things as normal, and that is not the best influence on how kids grow up understanding themselves and others.

Fairy tales are meant to be entertaining, but it also teaches children to not to listen to anyone and just do their own things. According to Alessandra Levorato, “ “The pact they make is different from the ones we have witnessed so far as Here the young man asks the girl to give him a kiss if he gets to grand- grandmother’s before she does, and she promises, loitering afterwards in the woods because she wants to lose her bet.” (11). It shows how characters, especially children, often make deals or promises without fully thinking them through. In this case, the girl agrees to kiss the young man if he reaches the grandmother’s house first. However, she deliberately hangs back in the woods, breaking the agreement. This kind of storyline reinforces the idea that in fairy tales, characters sometimes do their own thing, even if it means not keeping their promises. Although fairy tales are meant to be entertaining, they often depict characters who don’t necessarily listen to others or think about the consequences of their actions. This aspect of the stories unintentionally encourages kids to do things their own way without
considering the advice or guidance of others, which adds to the complexities of what these tales are teaching children.

In conclusion, Disney princesses and classic fairy tales carry more than just magic and fantasy.The influential messages that shape children’s perceptions of gender roles and societal expectations. Whether through Charles Perrault’s timeless tales like “Cinderella” and “The Sleeping Beauty” or the modern lens of Disney movies, these stories play a significant role in molding young minds. The traditional narrative often ties a woman’s value to her beauty, reinforcing outdated ideas of femininity and suggesting that marriage is the ultimate escape from duty filled lives. These stories send limiting messages to children, implying that a woman’s path to happiness revolves primarily around marriage, reinforcing these typical stereotypes.Moreover, the portrayal of women in stereotypical roles in Disney movies aligns with traditional expectations, which reflects on societal norms. This not only has negative effects on children but also contributes to the idea that boys should always be in charge. The concern lies in the repetitive portrayal of girls in specific roles, shaping children’s perceptions and influencing their beliefs about how things should be.Fairy tales, intended for entertainment, accidentally teach
children not only about outcomes but also about behavioral patterns and values. They often showcase characters, especially princesses, as passive figures waiting to be chosen and rewarded for their beauty. This reinforces the idea that girls should be beautiful and passive, perpetuating gender stereotypes. Additionally, the tendency of characters in fairy tales to make deals or promises without thoughtful consideration accidentally sends the message that doing things one’s own way, without listening to others, is acceptable.Therefore, while fairy tales attracts with their magical worlds, they also subtly contribute to the shaping of children’s attitudes and beliefs.