Disney princesses are bad for a girl's body image — and surprisingly positive for a boy's

Much fuss has been made about the negative effect stick-thin Disney princesses might have on young girls, and a newly published study reported by New York confirms such results. But in an intriguing break from the usual research, the study also found that Disney princess media might actually have a positive effect on how young boys perceive themselves:

Though the gendered stereotypes were found in both boys and girls, the study found that when it comes to body image, Disney princesses have a positive effect for boys. "These beneficial effects suggest that princesses provide a needed counterbalance to the hyper-masculine superhero media" that boys usually encounter. [New York]

For girls, the effects aren't nearly so encouraging — instead, the likes of Cinderella and Snow White can represent "some of the first examples of the exposure to the thin ideal," said Sarah Coyne, a researcher at Brigham Young University. The exposure to the princesses also leads some children to nurture gender stereotypes, such as teacups being "only" for girls.