What little boys can learn from Disney princesses

Disney princesses have evolved.

From The Little Mermaid’s Ariel, who gave up her voice for a man and to Snow White, who was hunted, poisoned and put in a coma because she was too pretty, traditional Disney Princesses have a distinctly damsel-in-distress modus operandi.

Not so any more as the likes of Brave’s Merida and everything that is Frozen, the advent of the assertive, independent princess is upon us.

But Ariel and Snow White still affect young girls, and research by Dr Sarah Coyne, associate professor of family life in Brigham University shows that there is also an impact on boys - but it might not be a bad one:

After studying 198 3- and 4-year old children, Coyne found that both girls (96 per cent) and boys (87 per cent) consumed some form of princess-centric media.

Here’s how Disney princesses help boys:

• Little boys are less likely to make fun of traditionally “girly” things for more boyish toys like trucks or guns.

• Boys show more balanced interests, which may help develop their empathy and make them more relatable in adult life

• Boys who watch movies like Cinderella at home are more likely to help others at school

• They are also more likely to share their toys

Coyne wrote:

Princess media and engagement may provide important models of femininity to young boys, who are typically exposed to hypermasculine media.

It may be that boys who engage more with Disney princesses, while simultaneously being exposed to more androgynous Disney princes, demonstrate more androgyny in early childhood, a trait that has benefits for development throughout the life span.

There's still a conversation to be had about racial diversity among Disney princesses, as well as the impact on little girls.

Still, if watching Cinderella makes your son a better human being, why not?

HT: The Washington Post

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