“Girls do not look smart, they are pretty”—said a five-year-old Bangladeshi boy after a comment by the mother that his sister (three years old) was looking “smart”. The mother had to explain that both boys and girls could be smart and pretty. How does a five-year-old develop such gender stereotyped attitudes? Most of our boys grow up to believe that girls and women are weak and dependent. In many cases, girls also become obsessed with beauty and learn to be passive. Boys and girls develop certain understandings of masculinity and femininity and their expected behaviour, which ultimately affects both of them negatively in realising their potential. But why?
“If you raised a girl in a jungle, there’s no chance she would wish to play with pretty dresses or worry about her body type. These ideas come from somewhere. Deep societal changes need to start with children, so if we keep teaching them the same stereotypes and prejudices, then society will not change.”
Rosie Allen wrote this to describe the “Dangers of Disney”, her project on the messages that are being taught to children through most Disney films. She has given her own interpretation of various stories through paintings and added text for explanation. Visiting her exhibition in London more than a year ago was very thought-provoking, where she critically examined some of the popular stories (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty etc) and raised questions on abuse in romantic relationships, the importance of consent, obsession with physical beauty, fear of ageing etc.
First published on The Daily Star | 30 November 2020
