by Breelyn Sirk

Created on: May 26, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2009

The Disney definition of masculinity has not always been a realistic one. For over 50 years, Disney defined masculinity in their movies as being a strong, attractive hero with a dazzling smile. The first time Disney had an opportunity to illustrate masculinity was in their first full length movie "Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs". The model for masculinity in the film is the handsome prince who is strong and daring, yet romantic at the same time, the ultimate dreamy man who searches for a girl he only glimpsed, and in the end saves her with just one kiss. This view of masculinity is not very politically correct because it goes along with the thought that men need to "save the day" because "that's what the man does". In reality, men are not perfect saviors that always get the girl. Needless to say, Disney set the bar very high for what defines masculinity with their very first film.

This Disney trend of an a-typical stereotype of masculinity continued in movies like "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty", and "The Little Mermaid". It was until 1990's "Beauty and the Beast" that Disney finally starting changing its tune on masculinity. This movie pokes fun at the usual Disney stereotype of masculinity with their villain Gaston. Gaston is certainly strong and attractive, the whole town admires him, so in that way Gaston fits the old Disney standard, but the female lead is repulsed by him because underneath his exterior, he is all brawns and no brain, and arrogant to boot. This Disney move to go so boldly against the standard of masculinity they had been preaching for years, was the first sign that masculinity in Disney movies was finally starting to evolve.

Disney soon corrected another aspect of the way the they usually portrayed masculinity as always knowing and wanting to do the right thing, and never having to grow or learn. The movies that followed "Beauty and the Beast" had a much more accurate picture of what masculinity is in real life, movies like "The Lion King", "Aladdin" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", had a male main character, which meant that the focus was on masculinity as opposed to the majority of past Disney films that were more centered on feminine qualities. Each of these movies featured a male protagonist who had to struggle to find their place in the world and basically become men, growing into their own way of showing their masculinity. This depiction that developing masculinity takes work and is not all about being macho, is much more politically correct than the old Disney version of masculinity.

Learn more about this author, Breelyn Sirk.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.