Sociological Analysis of “Lilo and Stitch” verses the Portrayal of Disney Princesses

In one of Disney’s magnificent motion Pixar, “Lilo and Stitch”, the image of one of the many protagonists brings light to the issue on the mass media portrayal of women. Nani Pelekai, Lilos’ sister and legal guardian, carries the burden of supporting herself and her younger sister. Due to her lack of employment, as well as her core focus of taking care of Lilo, her funds are limited. Therefore, her and lilo face the feminization of poverty, which is the subordination of woman because of limited income and the child rearing of her sister. Based on her accent, skin tone and geographical location, it would seem that her ethnicity and biological race  would be defined as Pacific Islander from Hawaii. Although there is no individual discrimination presented in this film, there can be an act of institutional discrimination based on the Nanis’ mannerism, ethnic background, realistic weight, and her relative poverty from Disney. Based on her heroism and “damsel in distress” depictions, how does she not qualify as a Disney princess? It’s because of her culture of poverty. Limited income and lack of stability, without the “magical wonder” of a prince or inheritance to re-socialize her, and increase her social mobility out of poverty, than the entitlement of princess is not given. From a radical feminist perspective, this is an outcome of woman living in a patriarchal society. Therefore, what Nani must do is respond to her oppression with social activism and justify that the stereotypes of a single mother, or guardian, living on limited income is inaccurate. However, the liberal feminist believes that this issue should be resolved with Nani maintaining an actual job and progressing into a higher position. However, a social feminist might connect her female oppression to the inequalities of her race.  Being a female minority in a somewhat diverse society still has a dominant group and a subordinate group, which may be the cause of her economical instability.

Based on the ideology of what qualifies as a dominant species in our culture, the one that looks more “Anglo-Saxon”, more specific, “blonde hair and blued eye” will fit into the princess category. Other female attributes include waist size, clothing selection, scheme of color, and victimization. All of which Nani does not carry. What example does this set on the femininity of society, specifically the children that actually analyze and idolize the Disney princesses? ABC news, C. Micheal Kim and Ariella Noveck, used a survey to justify that African American girls actually prefer playing with white dolls. “63 percent of African-American children surveyed preferred playing with white dolls over black dolls” (Ahuja). Another survey concludes that, “college-age women were developing narcissistic traits was four times that of men”, according to the Alternative Press of NBC news (Alternative Press). Thoughts?

Works Cited

"Princess Fever Reigns for Generation of Girls." Msnbc.com. Alternative Press, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.

KIM, C. MICHAEL, and ARIELLA NOVECK Via. "Black Girl Wants White Doll: What Would You Do?" ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.