With their big eyes, pale skin, and tiny, physically impossible waists, Disney princesses have long been studied and criticized for negatively affecting the self-esteem of young girls.
But A new study from the University of California, Davis, Found out it’s not as simple as you would think.
In “Skin or not,” researchers found that Disney princesses did not harm children’s sense of self-esteem and body image.
The study, published by the journal Psychology of Popular Media, surveyed 340 children and their caregivers and asked them about their favorite princesses.
Children who loved princesses with “thin” bodies – like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty – did not have lower self-esteem.
But kids who liked princesses with more average or athletic body shapes, like Merida or Moana, were more likely to be confident about their bodies and more active in their play styles.
Describing Disney princesses such as Merida, Moana and Mulan, researcher Jane Shawcroft said: “They’re running and climbing huge mountains and fighting things. Their stories are more about how they feel about their bodies.” What they can do with it, rather than what their body looks like.”
While the study was generally optimistic about the impact of Disney princesses on childhood self-esteem, the researchers also noted that idealization of thin body types is still very widespread in the media.
Increasing representation of diverse and realistic body types may change this, but Hollywood still has a way to go.