Much fuss has been made about the negative effect stick-thin Disney princesses might have on young girls, and a newly published study reported by New York confirms such results. But in an intriguing break from the usual research, the study also found that Disney princess media — movies, books, T-shirts, etc. — might actually have a positive effect on how young boys perceive themselves:
Though the gendered stereotypes were found in both boys and girls, the study found that when it comes to body image, Disney princesses have a positive effect for boys. "These beneficial effects suggest that princesses provide a needed counterbalance to the hyper-masculine superhero media" that boys usually encounter. [New York]
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