New Feminist Studies in Audiovisual Industries| Female Leadership Represented in Animation for Children and the Sociocognitive Learning of 21st-Century Girls

Authors

  • Maria Del Rosario Neira-Piñeiro University of Oviedo Spain
  • M. Esther Del Moral Pérez University of Oviedo Spain
  • Lourdes Villalustre University of Oviedo Spain

Keywords:

animation cinema, female leadership, social learning, stereotypes, childhood

Abstract

Animation cinema is an entertainment platform with great potential to foster sociocognitive learning in the child audience. The stories told, the main characters, stereotypes represented, and formulas to solve conflicts provide reference social models for children. Due to the progressive evolution experienced by female characters since the last century, they have not only acquired more prominence, but also have presented examples of women empowerment. This case study qualitative research provides a content analysis about the female characters of 10 successful animation films from the last decade. Women leadership models are analyzed considering three dimensions—personal and psychological, sociological, and communicative—and using the instrument Cartoons-L, inspired by the theories on social leadership and film narrative. The prevalence of charismatic, participatory, and emotional leadership is ultimately confirmed, incarnated in professional, independent, assertive, determined, and courageous women who offer positive behavior models for girls.

Author Biographies

Maria Del Rosario Neira-Piñeiro, University of Oviedo Spain

Associate ProfessorUniversity of OviedoSpain

M. Esther Del Moral Pérez, University of Oviedo Spain

ProfessorUniversity of OviedoSpain

Lourdes Villalustre, University of Oviedo Spain

Assistant ProfessorUniversity of OviedoSpain

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Published

2021-01-06

Issue

Section

Special Sections