How can I apply this article for the woman behaviour influence ?

This study examined level of engagement with Disney Princess media/products as it relates to gender- stereotypical behavior, body esteem (i.e. body image), and prosocial behavior during early childhood. Participants consisted of 198 children (Mage=58 months), who were tested at two time points (approxi- mately 1 year apart). Data consisted of parent and teacher reports, and child observations in a toy prefer- ence task. Longitudinal results revealed that Disney Princess engagement was associated with more female gender-stereotypical behavior 1 year later, even after controlling for initial levels of gender-stereotypical behavior. Parental mediation strengthened associations between princess engagement and adherence to female gender-stereotypical behavior for both girls and boys, and for body esteem and prosocial behavior for boys only.

"I am a princess. All girls are."Sara Crewe. (A Little Princess; Burnett, 1905)

Girls and women are often stereotyped and sexual- ized in the mass media (e.g., Collins, 2011; Smith, Pieper, Granados, & Choueite, 2010). An examina- tion of the media during early childhood is particu- larly important, as these years lay down a foundation for gender role development over time (Bussey & Bandura, 1999), and media may act as a key socializing agent for gender role development (for a review, see Signorielli, 2011). A meta-analysis of 30 studies found that television viewing can develop and reinforce children's attitudes regarding gender stereotypes (Herrett-Skjellum & Allen, 1996).

One of the most popular types of media and merchandise for young girls is the Disney Princess line. The line is highly profitable, with sales in 2012 alone exceeding more than $3 billion (Goudreau, 2012). There is some public concern regarding the effect that Disney Princesses may have on young girls (e.g., Orenstein, 2011). However, there is little empirical research examining how Disney Prin- cesses are portrayed in the media and what effect they might have on children's gender role develop- ment, attitudes, and behavior. Accordingly, the aim of the current study is to examine longitudinal associations between exposure to Disney Princess media and gender-stereotypical behavior, body esteem, and prosocial behavior for preschool and kindergarten age children.

The physical appearance of Disney Princesses has also been a common topic in the news media, popular press, and research literature (Orenstein, 2011). The typical princess is portrayed as young and attractive with large eyes, small nose and chin, moderately large breasts, prominent cheekbones, lustrous hair, and good muscle tone and skin com- plexion (Gangestad & Scheyd, 2005; Lacroix, 2004). Additionally, princesses generally embody a form of"thin-ideal"media, meaning that they represent an unrealistically thin femalefigure as the most positive and desirable (Lacroix, 2004). Studies have shown that as early as preschool, children begin to express a preference for thin body types, and girls as young as 5 years old express fears of getting fat or show problems with body esteem, a self-evalua- tion of one's body and appearance (Tremblay, Lovsin, Zecevic, & Lariviere, 2011).

According to research on the thin-ideal internal- ization, a belief that"thin is good"results when individuals internalize perceptions that are voiced by significant or respected individuals, including parents, peers, and the media (Thompson & Stice, 2001). Media messages regarding the thin ideal are both pervasive and powerful and may negatively influence body esteem in viewers (Hohlstein, Smith, & Atlas, 1998). Indeed, a number of meta-analyses show that heightened exposure to the thin ideal in media is associated with internalization of this stan- dard in girls (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008; Want, 2009). Although most research examines the effect of media on older girls and women, longitudinal studies suggest that early exposure to the thin ideal in media (around the age of 5 years old) predicts appearance-related concerns in the future (Dohnt & Tiggemann, 2006). Thin-ideal media is also associ- ated with disordered eating in early elementary- aged children both concurrently and longitudinally (Harrison, 2000; Moriarty & Harrison, 2008). Not surprisingly, playing with thin-ideal dolls (e.g., Barbie) is also associated with lower body esteem, especially in younger girls (e.g., Anschutz & Engels, 2010). Accordingly, Disney Princess movies and the associated marketing are concerning because they potentially represent some of the earliest exposure to thin-ideal media in a girl's life.

Disney Princesses and Child Development 1913

Hypothesis 1: On the basis of previous research and the social cognitive theory of gender development, we predict that expo- sure to Disney Princesses will be associated with heightened adher- ence to female gender stereotypes both concurrently and over time. We also predict associations will be stronger for girls than for boys.