Naslov
Fairy Tales and Gender Stereotypes

Autori
Gržić, Martina

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Ocjenski radovi, diplomski rad, diplomski

Fakultet
Učiteljski fakultet u Osijeku

Mjesto
Osijek

Datum
11.07

Godina
2012

Stranica
50

Mentor
Flegar, Željka

Ključne riječi
fairy tales; gender stereotypes; Disney adaptations; models; gender appropriate behaviour

Sažetak
Fairy tales have served as children’s entertainers and educators throughout history, and they continue to maintain that role in the present as well. Due to the fact that this particular genre tends to be a child’s first encounter with the literature, its elements and characteristics are continuously evaluated. Because gender awareness is developed by means of social interactions, children can shape their behaviour according to models presented in fairy tales and their media counterparts. From early childhood, children are confronted with various examples of this genre, whose features are reinforced in the media by means of corporations such as The Walt Disney Studios. Therefore, if the presented characters reflect the stereotypical roles of males and females, this can have a significant influence on children’s attitudes and perceptions of gender appropriate behaviour. Gender stereotypes, in the written and animated versions of fairy tales, present schemes of proper behaviour, qualities and tendencies of young women and men. This thesis will focus on gender stereotype recognition in fairy tales that are on the list of required reading in primary schools in Croatia: Charles Perrault’s “Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper”, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimms’ “Little Snow White” and the “Briar Rose” and Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”. Gender stereotypes presented in those fairy tales will be divided into categories relating to the characters’ physical appearance, behaviour and the ultimate object of desire. The link between physical appearance and the achievement of one’s personal goals will be examined, as well as the element of beauty as the trigger of obsession and competitiveness. Also, the personality characteristics of the heroines and the villains will be accentuated, as well as their main goals. Moreover, the thesis will focus on Disney adaptations of the analyzed fairy tales, in order to detect the presentation of the afore-mentioned gender stereotypes. Accordingly, Walt Disney Studios, known for their distinct use of “personality animation, ” exhibit focus on portraying human characters with a distinct personality, often conveyed through their physical appearance. Therefore, the idea that Disney reinforces gender stereotypes and links them closely to the character’s physical appearance, behaviour and its object of desire will be verified. It will be analyzed in which way Disney highlights the concepts of gender roles and gender appropriate behaviour as a “proper model” for generations of children worldwide.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filologija

POVEZANOST RADA