Taste Culture - DCOM and Disney shows

Another significant pop culture influence is DCOM and Disney Channel tv shows. I grew up watching tv shows such as Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and Wizards of Waverly Place. With the exception of shows like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, most of these shows had female leads. In the reading “Becoming a Girl: Pop Culture’s First Stage of Gender Training”. How Pop Culture Shapes the Stages of a Woman's Life: From Toddlers-in-Tiaras to Cougars-on-the-Prowl, Ames and Burcon (2016) argue the habitual exposure to gender stereotypes girls are faced with; one example they use is when talking about Hannah Montana. Ames and Burcon argue Hannah Montana told girls they could have success in life but they essentially would have to lie to achieve it. Unlike Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place told the story of a strong, outspoken female lead, Alex Russo.

Given that I am a huge Wizards of Waverly Place fan, I am heavily influenced by Alex Russo. As demonstrated in the video above, Alex Russo demonstrated what it meant to be an independent, powerful, and funny female lead. Russo rejected typical female stereotypes and highlighted the importance of authenticity. Along with Alex Russo, there are several other strong female characters in Disney shows and movies I have been influenced by; some examples include; the Cheetah Girls, Ren Stevens from EvenStevens, and Kim Possible.