Beauty and the Beast and Gender

A look at the way Beauty and the Beast depicts gender roles. What does the film teach children about masculinity and femininity? Does it challenge or encourage gender norms? Have your say at deconstructingchildmedia.wordpress.com



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Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Beauty and the Beast
• Gender
• Gender Socialization
• Gender and Children
• Child Media Analysis

[sstonesful]

Take a closer look... The typical macho male here is satirized not idealised. When he says that women shouldn't read, we're not supposed to take him seriously. We empathise with Belle and see her behaviour as positive. She is presented as a more independent woman (compared to the others in the town) who is not content to be the "little wife" of a handsome and masculine man. Rather, she wants someone who "understands" her. There are also some negative stereotypes, but it's not black and white.

[MizzDiamonds]

Also this film has a lot to say about abusive relationships. Beasts yells at Belle many times, isolates her from her family. Yet his behaviour is constructed as having a bad temper so Belle stays with him and helps him control his temper bringing out Prince Charming in him.

It sends a message to young girls that you too can bring out a Prince Charming in a man that "has a bad temper" all you need to do is be patient and kind and he'll come around.

[lewisejackson]

The film reinforces gender roles but depicts them in a more nuanced manner than many of the films preceding it. Gaston and the 3 blondes are the rigid and narrow views of masculinity and feminity that are satirized while Belle and the Beast and the complex versions that are lauded. However, in spite of its progressive elements, Disney does not radically challenge ideas of gender. Belle and Beast don't challenge gender roles but simply find new ways to exist within then.

[lewisejackson]

Meanwhile, the Beast is only able to win over Belle by developing kindness, compassion, and mercy. By the end of the film, Gaston has become his dark mirror and is villified for not tempering his masculine traits with traditionally feminine ones as the Beast has. The Beast is stronger and more masculine than Gaston but only saves himself by learning not to rely on them but to treat others with respect and as equals.

[lewisejackson]

In terms of gender, the film depicts men and women in traditional gender roles but depicts those roles with more complexity than usual. Belle is an intellectual and contrasted with the 3 village girls who do nothing but swoon over Gaston, making her seem more virtuous and the girls' attitude silly for centering their lives around a man. Belle is also free to determine her own romantic destiny and seeks out a partner who treats her as an equal.

[lewisejackson]

The film's depiction of women is more problematic. Belle is depicted as intellectual and confident but she is only independent with respect to her choice of husband. In the film, she acts as a caregiver to her father and then to the beast and so fits comfortably into traditional gender roles. She does demand respect and equality within her romantic relationships and she and the Beast interact as intellectual equals throughout the film, so she is somewhat progressive.

[lewisejackson]

Gaston clearly satirizes traditional masculine behavior, especially traditional male attitudes towards women who see them as servants/concubines. The beast embodies some of these tropes as well. At the start of the film his behavior is aggressive masculinity at its worst. It is only when he balances the masculine aspects of his personality with more traditionally feminine ones (kindness, compassion, etc) that he is able to win over Belle. A healthy message for boys I think.

[freshfruit94]

The begining scene of this movie is a wonderfully presented satire, shown in the vid here, and it is refreshing of Disney to take this view and show kids that sometimes, you look more like a fool than a hero when you pretend your something your not. Belle here is cleary the heroine, as she looks for something that is much more rare and permanent than physical attractiveness. Beast, not Gaston, is the one who understands her. I wonder though if its wise in the real world to stay with a beast?

[AserHapi]

@MizzDiamonds That is a very old argument, and really you should be complaining about Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's 1740 publication and not Disney. On the other hand, what does it teach boys? Beast was miserable and lonely due to his bad temper and we see him completely incapable of enjoying anything due to his bravado. This is an angle seldom seen in fairy tales.

[Honeydew7396]

1. Satirizes.

2. Flexible. Clearly Gaston is a sexist a-hole.

[003975815]

i really do like this video and it clearly shows what its saying only that it does show the typical male who suppose to be the opposite of what he is if not no woman will want him

[ReKidnames]

@MizzDiamonds That really depends on the man.