A Content Analysis: Gender Roles in Studio Ghibli Films

Abstract

Gender role portrayal in children’s media, especially in animated films, have been studied considerably to understand its possible effects on children’s perceptions of gender. Previous studies have shown that characters in these films are usually depicted in traditional and sometimes negative representations of gender roles. However, while Western children’s animations have been frequently discussed, little research has been done on gender role portrayal in Studio Ghibli films, despite their popularity both in Japan and internationally. To address this gap in research, the current study analyzed the behaviors of male and female protagonists from five Studio Ghibli films (e.g., Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away). The study used a coded content analysis method first developed by England, Descartes, and Collier-Meek in a 2011 study on gender role portrayal in Disney princess movies. During the research process, the frequency of gendered characteristics exhibited by the male and female protagonists of each film was tracked and recorded. Results indicated that while male protagonists exhibited more traditionally masculine characteristics, female protagonists portrayed close to equal levels of masculine and feminine characteristics, suggesting that they were more androgynous than their male counterparts. Examination of the protagonists’ most frequently exhibited characteristics as well as their rescuing actions also supported this conclusion. These findings add to the existing discussion on gender portrayal in children’s media and to the limited research on Studio Ghibli films in hopes of providing the groundwork for future exploration.