Paper 1
Comparison of Two Articles
Gender roles exist in Disney’s animated movies with the female roles presented as a princesses, queens or homemakers. In Disney films the Disney princess has changed her role over time, yet she continues to be a role model for many young girls. But is this a bad message? Do Disney princess movies carry a restrictive message for the little girls? The two articles: “Girls on Film: The Real Problem with the Disney Princess Brand” by Monika Bartyzel and “In Defense of Princess Culture” by Crystal Liechty present conflicting views about the role that Disney princesses are playing in the children’s lives. The impact on young girls is discussed throughout the two readings with different interpretations of Disney’s message.
Both writers discuss the theme of someday their daughters will search to “find a gallant man to marry” but under different lenses. The article “Girls on Film: The Real Problem with the Disney Princess Brand” by Monika Bartyzel, gives supporting evidence how the Disney Princess model becomes an obsession and represents false imagines for little girls. According to Bartyzel, these girls have to struggle in a narrow world of pretty dresses and male dependency. In contrast, the author Crystal Liechty loves the “Princess Culture” and in her opinion there is nothing wrong with it, a fairy tale dream is not so bad. Monika Bartyzel presents a stronger argument and it is more convincing because the author gives more concrete supporting evidence in a formal diction, while the article “In Defense of Princess Culture” by Crystal Liechty is more effective because it was written in a humorous tone to entertain the readers, not to inform them.
Bartyzel’s article presents a stronger argument with other writers supporting her point of view. New York Times newspaper writer, Peggy Orenstein explains that the princess culture is no...