Female leadership represented in animation for children and socio-cognitive learning of girls of the XXI century

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.