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Andrew Dempsey

Dr. Thayer

ENC1102

September 25th, 2018

Addressing Gender Stereotypes in Modern Day Culture: Shrek the Movie

In today’s times, it is easy to point out and view trends involving gender stereotypes,

especially when looking at political issues and social media. Often, these stereotypes are

followed or challenged in every younger generation’s favorite destination; the movie theatre.

Movies such as Mulan, The Incredibles, and even Moana all address or challenge a gender

stereotype, and expose people to these stereotypes at early ages. In particular, Shrek the movie

does an excellent job in using gender stereotypes towards women, and later rejecting those

stereotypes through the actions of a main character. Fiona, the leading female character,

demonstrates stereotypes through her actions in seeming helpless when in the tower, portraying

herself originally as graceful and “ladylike”, and through the rejection of these ideas as she

becomes an independent thinker and leader as the story of Shrek continues.

Initially, Fiona shows the common gender stereotype against women as she lays helpless

in a tower guarded by a menacing dragon (who is also a female) waiting for her prince charming

to arrive and save her. This concept is commonly seen throughout all of history, with women

being seen completely dependent on the actions, input, and pockets of men. They are seen as

“needing saving” in situations they could easily work their own way out of. This stereotype

objectifies women, and takes away from the strengths a woman might possess on her own

(Heilman 658). This stereotype also plays into the idea that women are born caregivers, and are

always searching for a man who will support them and later raise a family with them. Fiona stays
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in the castle dreaming and waiting for a handsome knight to come, slay the dragon, defend her

honor, and ride off into the sunset where they will live their lives happily ever after. She also

plays into the stereotype, believing she must be saved, rather than strategizing and finding her

own method of escaping the tower. She also plays into this stereotype in believing a handsome,

valiant man whom she will fall madly in love with will come to her rescue, only to see that her

expectations are disappointed when Shrek and Donkey are the ones saving the day.

As the plot continues, stereotypes are further addressed as Fiona is expected to act a

certain way, especially with her being royalty. These stereotypes are later rejected and a new

Fiona emerges. Fiona, as a human female, is supposed to act elegant, polite, reserved, and all

other traits that would leave her character the opposite of strong and independent (Lorber 59). In

playing into the “helpless woman” stereotype, she follows the stereotype further in being willing

to immediately follow and serve her knight (who has yet to reveal himself). She is ready to give

him her hand in marriage, and be eternally grateful/indebted to him as he saved her life (Glick

and Rudman 744). When Shrek reveals himself as the man who saved her, he also makes his

“noble” intentions clear as he tells her he did it to get his house back, and this facade begins to

slowly fade. Fiona reacts to this by becoming rebellious and does not wish to follow his lead.

When Fiona later turns into an ogre as well, she sees the stereotypes for what they truly are.

These are methods of oppression used to make women feel that they have to follow and agree

with certain ideas and roles in their societies. As Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey begin to run into

trouble and devise plans to successfully defeat their enemies, Fiona challenges the notions she

previously followed, and begins to show who she truly is. She becomes a leader within the

group. She becomes an independent thinker, who does not need the input of Shrek or any other

male to make decisions she feels to be correct. She is less ladylike, and burps and yells just as
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any other human being would. Most importantly, she falls in love with Shrek. This is important

because this does not happen based on the input of men, or any other character for that matter,

but rather it is a decision she has made because she has fallen in love with Shrek’s personality.

According to society, Shrek would be a bad choice because he is not a handsome prince, but a

monstrous ogre who eats people and lives in the Swamp. She sees that Shrek respects her input

and her decisions, and although this was not the case initially, he admires her and responds to her

thoughts genuinely. The relationship they formed was based on the opinions of them both, and

not just his opinions or the opinions of her society.

Most importantly, Fiona addresses gender stereotypes by going against them as she

begins to fight alongside male characters, lead them to victory, and demonstrate how

independent of a woman she truly is. As Fiona grows more comfortable around Shrek and

Donkey, she also begins to find her true self. Having been surrounded by the same kind of

people her whole life and herself, Fiona is taught to believe in a certain set of social norms.

These social norms fall apart as Fiona is introduced into a situation where her ideas of life are

contradicted, and as she learns that there is more to someone than what others might say. This

idea becomes important as it begins in how Fiona interacts and views others, but changes as

these realizations show in Fiona herself. She learns it is important to get to know people through

their own actions and words, as opposed to the words of others. This idea can especially be

demonstrated when she also becomes an ogre and loses the attractiveness that led people to care

for and acknowledge her. Women are always seen as nosy and easily persuaded, especially

through cliques and rumors they might hear. They are also portrayed as shallow, driven by looks,

and overly dramatic. However, as Fiona begins to hang out with creatures seen as social outcasts

who are rejected, she challenges that stereotype. She is kind and helpful to Donkey, and
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appreciates his humor. Although her and Shrek do not get along at first, she comes to admire his

stubbornness and determination as she sees those qualities in herself, and she begins to

understand he acts out of desperation for his house back. When planning to defeat their obstacles

ahead, Fiona naturally finds herself becoming the leading voice and center of attention. Fiona

becomes a crucial part of a team as Donkey, Shrek, and her overcome these obstacles together.

Women are often viewed as inferior to men when observing physical strength, agility, or even

pain tolerance. In Fiona’s case, she is originally seen as not physically or athletically equal to

men, which is a common western stereotype against women when looking at physical pain or

sports performances (Anderson 260-262). This, however, is not the case as Fiona learns she is

much more capable than she was viewed as when locked away in a tower. She becomes unafraid

to fight her battles head on, and is able to physically and mentally hold her own. In these scenes

Fiona is not a physically or mentally weak, quiet, dependent girl who lives to please men. She is,

in fact, the complete opposite. Her physical abilities push past the abilities of most men featured

in the film, and her mental abilities allow her to analyze the situation, create a game plan, and

strike without fear. Male and female characters quickly recognize the leadership qualities Fiona

demonstrates, and follow her lead. They begin to look up to her, and find strength in themselves

as she shows them what they could potentially be if they look past the norms people attempted to

place them in. Her actions not only speak for her ability to demonstrate useful skills she

possesses, but allows other princesses and women in the movie to use her as an inspiration, and

follow the same path she did towards finding themselves and making the powerful statements

they wish to make.

All in all, stereotypes held against genders hurt the people of that gender’s abilities to

truly define themselves before stereotypes define them. In the case of Shrek, women are
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originally portrayed as weak, small, and dependent. However, the plot of Shrek does an

incredible job in breaking these stereotypes and challenging their validity through the actions of

a lead female character. It allows Fiona to become a positive leading influence for other female

characters, and even possibly viewers. Fiona’s challenging of stereotypes shows others,

especially children at ages the movie is aimed toward, that women are not weak despite what

society might tell them, and it is important to push past stereotypes and allow oneself to be

defined and grow through his or her own actions and words, and not the concepts of society or

opinions of others.
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Works Cited

Anderson, Eric. “I Used to Think Women were Weak:” Orthodox Masculinity, Gender

Segragation, and Sport.” Sociological Forum, Vo. 23, No.2, June 2008.

www.ericandersonphd.com/resources/2008%20%27I%20Used%20to%20Think%20Wo

men%20were%20Weak,%27%20Orthodox%20Masculinity,%20Gender-

Segregation%20and%20Sport%20%5BSociological%20Forum%5D.pdf

Glick, Peter and Rudman, Laurie A. “Prescriptive Gender Stereotypes and Backlash Toward

Agentic Women.” Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 57, No. 4, 2001, pp. 743-762.

www.wesfiles.wesleyan.edu/courses/PSYC-30clwilkins/week4/Rudman.Glick.2001.pdf

Heilman, Madeline E. “Description and Prescription: How Gender Stereotypes Prevent Women’s

Ascent Up the Organizational Ladder.” Journal of Social Issues, vol. 57, no.4, 2001, pp.

657-647.

www.business.uwm.edu/gdrive/Ragins_B/Diversity%20Course%20BUSADM%20441/R

eadings/Heilman,%202001%20Gender%20Stereotypes%20(Grads).pdf

Lorber, Judith. “Night to His Day: The Social Construction of Gender.” Paradoxes of Gender,

Yale University, 1994, pp. 13-36.

www.csus.edu/indiv/s/shawg/courses/033/readings/social_constructions.pdf

Shrek. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson, performances by Mike Myers, Eddie

Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Dreamworks, 2001.