close
Are Disney Films Responsible for Poor Millennial Body Image?
November 2018 | Reading time: 3 minutes
Table of Contents
In recent years there has been a lot of outrage regarding the appearance of characters in Disney films. Many people believe the slim figures corrupt the minds of young children, and the famous hourglass image leads to body image issues.
A study conducted at Brigham Young University tested whether Disney princesses affected the behaviour of 200 pre-school children. The results showed that girls with body-esteem issues were more likely to engage with Disney Princesses, and this engagement increased over time. Girls as young as aged 3 believed that women are thin because of these films.
Disney Merida
This issue is not just linked to the portrayal of characters in films. Dolls also have a significant, if not more dominant impact in communicating the wrong messages about body image. The most famous example of this is Barbie dolls, boasting a thin waist, prominent bust and curvy hips. The dolls of the Disney character Merida from ‘Brave’ also received a lot of negative attention. In the film, Merida was a realistic and average figure, with an indefinite bust, and a plain face devoid of make-up. However, the Merida doll had a much more pronounced bust, thinner waist and a lot of make-up on.
Here, Disney missed out on their chance to have a positive impact on body image for their young audience. Instead, they conformed to the unrealistic image that so many dolls adopt. Furthermore, researcher Sarah Coyne pointed out the ‘feminisation’ of Merida detracts from Merida’s fierce strength and independence in the film. Her strength is what the younger generation should aspire to, rather than wanting to have a certain look that is unhealthy and unattainable.
Moana
Fortunately, Disney’s ‘Moana’ in 2016 is better than the traditional Disney Princess films. Moana is much more average looking so audiences identify with her. As a result of this, children idolise her heroic traits rather than her appearance. Interestingly, in a study conducted by Dr Maya Götz for the International Central Institute for Youth and Educational Television, 70% of 1,055 children said they wanted to watch an average character, rather than a thin or chubby one. This corroborates with the idea that children need to see characters they relate to, and whom they see themselves in.
This is a great opportunity for the media and toy industry to have a positive and constructive effect on their young audience. By reducing the focus on body image, children idolise or copy traits and behaviours. Interestingly, a blogger for the Huffington Post argues that parents should openly discuss body image with young children. This helps children to understand there are a range of body types, and there is a difference between what is realistic and unrealistic. Either way, it is vital that the media and toy industry stop producing these unrealistic images. A better way to use their influence is to teach children how to love themselves, and that everyone is unique in their own way.
If you want to look and feel even better, read about our HIFU Face Lift treatment which restores health and vitality to your skin.
Related Articles
Mindfulness, an Introduction
The benefits of mindfulness Mindfulness could be the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to looking good and...
Health benefits music offers us
Music is an excellent form of entertainment and an even grander medium for creative expression, and it offers listeners some...
The 5 Weirdest Fat Reduction Methods from History
Throughout history, humans have concocted some truly bizarre methods in their quest to shed unwanted pounds. From the peculiar to...
International Men’s Day: Why Is It Important?
*TRIGGER WARNING: This article covers issues related to mental health such as suicide.* International Men's Day takes place on 19th November every...
The pros of eating chocolate
Read about the surprising number of health benefits that you can attain simply from enjoying a little chocolate. Over the...
Embrace the Lifestyle You’ve Always Dreamed Of
What is Your Ideal Lifestyle?We all have an idea of our dream lifestyle, but it's easy to get caught up...
Water Aerobics – Get Fit in Water
Water aerobics has a bit of a reputation for being something that the elderly do but in fact, it's a...
Staying fit over 60
At around 60 years old, you may find it a difficult task to maintain the active lifestyle that you had...
Laser Hair Removal Birmingham
Permanent laser hair removal at VIVO Body Studio Birmingham At VIVO Body Studio Birmingham, we use advanced and effective laser...
Embrace the Lifestyle You Crave: Finding Balance and Joy
What is a Lifestyle, Really?A lifestyle is more than just the way you live; it's a reflection of your values,...
Why celebrities now opt for non-surgical skin treatments
There is a pressure in Hollywood to remain young forever. Most of the celebrities have turned their attention towards non-surgical...
How much tea is too much tea?
Drinking tea offers numerous health benefits, paired with a few adverse effects as well. We take a look at how...Fill out the form below or click here to arrange a callback at a specific time.
Quick Contact
"*" indicates required fields
Happy Customers
1,679 Reviews and Counting
Mobina carried out this treatment and she is v knowledgable, professional and attentive throughout. I’ve got my next appointment booked & can’t wait to see the results after that session.
I would highly recommend this treatment and Mobina.