Stereotype Representation of Women in Film Industry

In the film industry, women are often stereotyped. The most common stereotype is that of the damsel in distress. This is often seen in movies where the hero saves a woman from danger. There are also other stereotypes that exist, such as the femme fatale and motherly/wholesome woman. These have been around for many years and still continue today.

Femme Fatale

The femme fatale stereotype is one that has been around for a long time. It was first used in early films like “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” (1931).

This type of character is typically portrayed as being attractive and seductive; they use their beauty to achieve their goals, whether it be getting money or power (Dyer, 2001). In these movies, they are usually killed off before they can be with their lover because they were considered dangerous to society at large (Dyer, 2001).

Motherly/Wholesome Woman

This type of female character tends to be portrayed as more wholesome than others; she will always do what is right even if it means putting herself in danger to do so (Kozloff & Simon, 1993).

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Stereotypes in Disney Animation and Pixar films

Stereotyping and misrepresentation of women in films have attracted controversial debates among scholars and society. Male characters always dominate many movies, even though the trend is gradually changing. Consequently, Gillam and Shannon critically analyze gender representation and portrayal in Disney Animation and Pixar films. According to Gillam and Shannon, Disney has maintained an alpha-male model while Pixar is embracing the new male model. Moreover, maintaining the alpha-male model is increasingly becoming challenging due to make flaws such as loneliness, increased vulnerability, and disempowerment.

One of the major issue or point discussed in the article is the stereotyping and misrepresentation of female characters in films. Gillam and Shannon argue that Disney films depict women as inferior. Besides, they mainly define female characters based on the traditional characteristics of women in society. Gillam and Shannon explain how gender stereotyping is changing in many films. Even though some film companies such as Disney have maintained male dominance, others like Pixar are embracing changes in gender roles in society.