Research Paper on Gender Role in "The Little Mermaid"

Introduction

Gender roles vary in the society from a traditional outlook in which genders are given unique roles in the society that sets them apart. Films are used to reinforce the gender roles further or to seek to validate the gender roles. Gender roles in the modern times continue to attract criticism especially from the feminist campaigners who seek to promote gender equality and end the stereotypical differences between genders. This paper will assess the gender roles in the film "The Little Mermaid" and its implications on the society as the audience of the film.

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"The Little Mermaid" Film Overview

"The Little Mermaid" is an animation movie developed by Disney and sites a rebellious mermaid Ariel who is curious about life on earth. Created in 1989 "The Little Mermaid" has played a significant role in the field of gender roles depiction in the films. The animated film seeks to showcase the different impacts of gender roles. Ariel falls in love with a human prince after which she is highly determined to become a human being to be able to live with the love of her life (England, Descartes, & Collier-Meek, 2011). The film depicts that Ariel was initially willing to live amongst the humans to be able to spend time with his lover.

Gender Roles in the Film

Gender roles are clearly defined in the film "The Little Mermaid" women and men have different gender roles that are reinforced by traditions that favor for gender rules. At just 16 years old, Ariel is already dissatisfied with a life of staying in the sea and bearing in mind the roles that she must meet in the sea. However, When Ariel celebrates her freedom by going out into the human being, and she marries the human prince of whom she is in love with. In the film, Ariel depicts the life and role of women in society (Yerby, Baron, & Lee, 2006). The film "The Little Mermaid" reinforce society in strict gender roles. Children watching "The Little Mermaid" are conditioned towards living according to their respective roles based on gender. Women are petite and beautiful but at the same time the film "The Little Mermaid" shows that women represented by Ariel are dependent on men. The film shows that the political worth of a woman is her ability to get married and beauty can be able to help women to escape poverty and lack by attracting a wealthy man (England et al., 2011). In Ariel's grotto which has her collections from shipwrecks, it is filled with domestic items which shows Ariel's gender sensitivity. Besides, Ariel lives a life of domestic duties which is a representative of the female gender role when she gets married to Prince Eric to help him with all the household duties.

The gender roles of men are unique from those of women as depicted in "The Little Mermaid" through male interaction with women. Men are protectors, and this is represented by the physical appearance of Prince Eric and his relationship with Ariel as her provider and protector. Ariel relationship with males in the film is based on the ability of them to provide for her needs. At first, Ariel entirely depends on her father King Triton and later on when she meets Prince Eric she is sure of his ability to provide for her (Milestone & Meyer, 2012). In the film, women are perceived to be beautiful but vulnerable to internal jealousy, but the beauty ability to attract men makes it possible for women in the film such as Ariel to get protection and depend on males.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the male and women representation in the film conforms with the traditional gender roles. The representation of men such as Prince Eric and King Triton as providers and protectors is a depiction of the mainstream gender roles that men are supposed to partake towards women. Just like the traditional gender roles, men in the film "The Little Mermaid" are more authoritative, aggressive, and influential by possessing a fit body. The power over females is a gender role for males, and it is depicted in King Triton controlling nature and power over Ariel based on the stereotypical masculine body that has big muscles.

References

England, D. E., Descartes, L., & Collier-Meek, M. A. (2011). Gender role portrayal and the Disney princesses. Sex Roles, 64(7-8), 555-567.

Milestone, K., & Meyer, A. (2012). Gender and popular culture. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2012. Print

Yerby, A., Baron, S., & Lee, Y. (2006). Gender Roles in Disney Animation. American Education.