Disney Princess prevent girls learn math, say scientists – RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, June 21 – RIA Novosti . Passion Disney cartoon about princesses lays in the girls’ series of stereotypes of the typical female behavior that prevent them succeed in math and science, say researchers in an article published in the journal Child Development.

“This research has changed that, as I say to my daughter, what things I paid attention, and in general it has a positive effect on my parents for money. Normally I can not say that my scientific discoveries somehow influenced my personal life, and this happened to me the first time “- said Sarah Coyne (Sarah Coyne) from the University Young Brigham (United States)

Coyne and colleagues concluded that the cartoons can push girls towards stereotyped behaviors and prevent them to achieve success in science. and business, watching how to behave 100 girls and boys senior kindergarten age, some of which is regularly watched an animation of the franchise “Disney Princess”.

During the monitoring scientists are interested in the fact that the watch and with which children play, as well as conducted polls among them and asked to solve unusual problems, for example, to sort toys and household items in the “boys’” and “girly”.

This experiment showed that almost all the children watched cartoons Disney – in fact, all of the girls and 85% boys. In their behavior they affect quite differently – a month after the beginning of their show more than half of the girls started to play exclusively with dolls princesses, while only 4% of the boys touched like toys

Passion like toys and cartoons. , according to the authors, a year later led to perpetuate stereotypes about the behavior of women in the minds of these girls, who began to assume that between them and the boys have insurmountable differences in behavior, education and opportunities. They began to be afraid to get dirty, which could interfere with them to develop and discover new things for themselves.

One of the most dangerous consequences of the development of these stereotypes about the behavior of “princesses” was, according to Coyne, what they were doing the girls less likely to study math and science, as they believed that these spheres knowledge does not fall within the scope of women’s interests. It may harm their development and careers, says psychologist.

Does this mean that parents should get rid of the cartoon “Disney”? According to Coyne, this should not be doing enough to ensure the harmonious development of children, combining Disney princesses with other forms of entertainment that do not impose stereotypes of typically male or female behavior.