21st Annual Student Research Conference
Fairy Tales and Gender Roles: Fantasies or Fallacies?
Dana J. Bruxvoort
Dr. Linda Seidel, Faculty Mentor
"Once upon a time, in a land far, far away..." The thoughts conjured by this phrase evoke a certain amount of nostalgia in most people. As children, nearly everyone heard the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales of Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty. It is undeniable that from "once upon a time" to "happily ever after," these fairy tales can play a tremendous role in determining people's perceptions of the world. And one specific area that they can influence is people's ideas regarding gender roles. The aforementioned fairy tales have clear portrayals of gender stereotypes and tend to support a patriarchal status quo. In looking at these fairy tales, I uncover some of these stereotypes and the dangers they present, while also examining why our culture still seems to have such an affinity for these stories.
Keywords: Fairy Tales, Gender Roles, Culture, Gender Stereotypes
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 47-1
Location: OP 2121
Time: 2:45