Too many men in Disney Princess films?

[easyas123]

What, wait... no mention of Klinger?

My favorite princess! Fun fact, Nurse Kelly was in 169 of 251 episodes...and now I've devoted way more time to this topic than I should have

 

[NiceBlue]

Karen, you wrote “Have a look at how many writers, but also producers are male. Then you have your answer how this happened.” Are you saying that the predominance of male writers and producers is why there are so many male characters in movies? If so you have something there, particularly if you include directors. Here are some sources of information:

https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-Celluloid
Ceiling-Report.pdf

Women and Hollywood

Directors

Tom,

 

[AppleDumpling]

I am trying to think of a speaking sidekick that is female, without a deep dive into the internet, and the only ones that come to mind are Laverne in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, although she was one of three gargoyle sidekicks and the other two were male, and Terk in Tarzan. I am sure there have to be more, but they certainly aren’t easily coming to mind.

Dory in Finding Nemo.

Not a Princess movie obviously, but Dory was a major character and even got her own spin-off/ sequel movie.

 

[NiceBlue]

Lumpy you wrote that there were “Nothing but female characters” in Inside-Out 2, but that is not the case. I would have wanted all of the emotions for the girl Riley to be female. Anger and fear are not just male emotions. You also wrote that “so many of the princess movies hinge on the very thing that the author is getting at; the challenge of a female lead making it in a world that is so male dominated. That very premise pretty much requires that most of the voices in the movie be male.” I disagree with that being what princess movies hinge on, actually it would seem to be that would lead to more female characters showing that there is not just one female in that case and that many villains are female also counters that idea.

Tom,

 

[dizneegirl]

Honestly, I don't care who has the speaking role, as long as they're saying something that's interesting... or entertaining... or heartfelt... or meaningful to the story... etc.

 

[NiceBlue]

Dizneegilr, the reason why this study is important is due to the overwhelming bias against girls and women not only in Disney Princess films, but in films in general and in all areas of creativity and control in this culture and society. For that reason I feel studies like this are very meaningful.

Tom,

 

[sam_gordon]

Dizneegilr, the reason why this study is important is due to the overwhelming bias against girls and women not only in Disney Princess films, but in films in general and in all areas of creativity and control in this culture and society. For that reason I feel studies like this are very meaningful.

Tom,

So what do you want people to do about it? Boycott Disney films until they do a 100% female only film? Send letters? What?

 

[NiceBlue]

Sam, what I would want first is for people to recognise this bias against half of the population of the US and the world is happening, not to dismiss the facts as meaningless. Bias are diminishing, not just for women, but for minorities in general, as the biases are pointed out. It seems that as bias becomes known people become less biased. As I pointed out I like Princess movies, official and unofficial, that is films with important female characters. People could write letters, they could boycott movies with overwhelming male casts, not just Disney films, whatever they want to. I like Disney Princess films because they emphasize the humanity of girls and women, but also because throughout my life I have seen so many male dominated films that I have become bored with them.

Tom,

 

[sam_gordon]

Sam, what I would want first is for people to recognise this bias against half of the population of the US and the world is happening, not to dismiss the facts as meaningless. Bias are diminishing, not just for women, but for minorities in general, as the biases are pointed out. It seems that as bias becomes known people become less biased. As I pointed out I like Princess movies, official and unofficial, that is films with important female characters. People could write letters, they could boycott movies with overwhelming male casts, not just Disney films, whatever they want to. I like Disney Princess films because they emphasize the humanity of girls and women, but also because throughout my life I have seen so many male dominated films that I have become bored with them.

Tom,

OK, there's a bias against women, minorities, LGBTQIA+, handicapped, and non-Christians. I agree it's getting better.

I watch movies and TV Shows to be entertained. If the story is good, if the acting is good, if the photography is good, if the editing is good, I don't care who does it. Some stories do not lend themselves to a lot of female characters. LOTR immediately comes to mind. Other stories DO lend themselves to a lot of female characters.

 

[NiceBlue]

Sam, ok watch what you like I’m only pointing out certain facts that you seem to agree with.

Tom,

 

[mom2rtk]

Are you talking about recent Disney films? Because we must be watching different films. And there's no point in litigating what Disney did in earlier decades.

It feels to me like Disney did spend some time trying to get more of a male audience for their princess films, which I think was mostly folly.

But recently, Disney seems to be really going out of their way to count heads and make sure all of the boxes are checked.

 

[NiceBlue]

Mom2rtk, I’m not sure what you are getting at. I’m talking about films covered in the studies I wrote about.

Tom,

 

[bdrex28]

Dizneegilr, the reason why this study is important is due to the overwhelming bias against girls and women not only in Disney Princess films, but in films in general and in all areas of creativity and control in this culture and society. For that reason I feel studies like this are very meaningful.

Tom,

Once again, perhaps it's not always a bias, perhaps in the past they were somewhat catering to the overwhelming majority?

I know, novel concept right?

I'm sure marketing firms are hired and asked this simple question: "please market our product to the minority population"

There's not always some secret squirrel conspiracy.

If you don't recognize that things have changed and it's getting better then that tells me you revel in the negative.

More power to you.

 

[NiceBlue]

Bdrex28, if the majority of people wanted Disney Princess films with more male speaking roles then that is a bias on the part of the majority. And I have mentioned that things have changed. Also, the three earliest Disney Princess films were among the ones with most female speakers. And I didn’t say it was some secret conspiracy.

Tom,