Disney boys to men: erotic gaze and masculine gender capital of former Disney boy actors

ABSTRACT

This research examines the nature of gender presentation of men who were the stars on Disney Channel shows. Research has already examined how young women who were Disney stars become quickly sexualised and perceived as women under the male gaze. However, there is little corresponding research on boys who are subject to the scrutiny of the public. I engage in a phenomenological content analysis of the social media of three adult male actors who starred on the show Wizards of Waverly Place. The nature of masculine gender capital encourages these men to move towards a masculine ideal while recognising they are under the erotic gaze. These men push to be severed from their youth identities, forming a strategic boundary that nods to the homoeroticism surrounding their identity.

KEYWORDS:

• Disney
• media studies
• gender capital
• erotic gaze
• masculinity

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank one of my former students, Jakeyiera Gray, for coming up with the idea of this research due to her love of the Disney fandom. If not for her urging or recognition of the lack of research on this topic, it would never have come to pass.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. It should be pointed out that it is accepted, particularly in media studies circles, that queerbaiting is a media trope, something done in a move, television show, or printed media, and can not be effectively ‘done’ by an individual in real life. It is for that reason that the term of Lieb, fauxmosexual, is more appropriate to what is occurring with Benson. However, because Brennan uses the more lay interpretation of queerbaiting in his piece, both terms are included.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.