I have a real problem with Disney.
I genuinely don’t understand how so many people can take their kids to see Disney movies, get excited when Disney movies come out of the “vault,” and spend a ton of money on Disney costumes and toys.
First of all, the race issue.
Disney can be absolutely and utterly racist. I won’t even delve as deeply as I should into “Song of the South” since it’s so difficult to find and has pretty much disappeared from the public eye. You may not even remember it, but you probably know the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” Quick synopsis: a boy moves to his mother’s plantation where he is regaled by stories from an ex-slave. Voices are arguably stereotypical and the black workers are, what comes across as, happily subservient. This one won’t be coming out of the vault any time soon.
But then there’s “Dumbo.” With his friend “Jim Crow.” We know our history, right? Again, with the stereotypical voice of what blackface could only mime.
Also, the Siamese cats in “The Lady and the Tramp” who parade around to Asian music, have slanted eyes, and come across as sneaky. All this in a film made in 1955, shortly after the end of the Korean War. More stereotypes.
And then there’s “Aladdin.” Potentially the worst offender with lyrics like, “Where they cut off your ear/If they don’t like your face… It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” Obviously, Arab-Americans weren’t exactly pleased by this depiction. And the first line was changed for home video due to protests, but not the second, leading an opinion piece in the NY Times to write, “To characterize an entire region with this sort of tongue-in-cheek bigotry, especially in a movie aimed at children, borders on barbaric.” – “It’s Racist, But Hey, It’s Disney”
Second of all, the whole kill the mom thing
Where are the mothers in Disney? These are just a few of the more famous films where the mothers, and in some cases both parents, are missing or deceased.
Cinderella?
Snow White?
Aladdin?
Pocahontas?
Bambi?
The Little Mermaid?
Pinocchio?
Peter Pan?
The Sword in the Stone?
Beauty and the Beast?
Lilo and Stitch?
The Jungle Book?
The Fox and the Hound?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
Tarzan?
Finding Nemo?
Frozen?
And the mothers who are left, the step-mothers, are all evil. As a mother, I’m thinking this may not be the message I want my children to receive.
Third, the whole damsel in distress needs a man thing
I don’t want my daughter OR son to get the wrong impression here. Most of these films depict girls who spend their whole lives waiting for the prince to rescue them. I don’t want my daughter to think she needs a man to rescue and protect her, and I don’t want my son to have an inflated ego thinking that women are naive, delicate flowers without opinions who need him to tell them what to do and how to act. Thankfully, Frozen was released, and while Anna still falls in love at the end, at least there is a little bit of poking fun at the whole Prince Charming scenario Disney is famous for.
So no thank you, especially to the worst offenders:
The Little Mermaid
Cinderella
Sleeping Beauty
Snow White
I suppose one could argue that I could use these films as conversation-starters.
And maybe one day I will. But right now, they are too young. I realize I won’t be able to avoid the Disney phenomenon forever, especially once they start school, but for now, I worry that the acceptance of these films in mainstream culture will make it too difficult for my children to see past the singing and dancing and bright colors. So we don’t watch them. But we will talk about race, gender, discrimination, family dynamics, and all of the other tough subjects. Just not with singing and dancing, pomp and circumstance.
Do you let your kids watch Disney films?
That’s it. Protect them from EVERYTHING so they can deal with NOTHING on their own. Enabling, entitling. Poor kids, they have no idea what’s in store for them when the reality of life hits them. Thus, the high rates of suicide in this generation.
This is…not how I see it at all. Frankly, I find it more “entitling” and “enabling” to teach my kids that some of the outdated and blatant stereotypes are okay, when I don’t think they are.
But really? No Disney –> Suicide? Surely you don’t mean that?
Janice, we call this a “red herring.” Letting children raise questions and experience life isn’t in question here, as it should be encouraged.The topic at hand is how children should first experience these thoughts and interactions.
Disney is a very manipulating company, targeting children and young mothers from an early age, ranging from product distribution to even offering mothers baskets, hours, after giving birth, full of Disney memorabilia for their newborns to wear and to play. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/business/media/07disney.html).
Exposing children at young ages to this type of marketing encourages materialism and materialistic competition among their young peers. This early onset brand loyalty is seen in return over multiple Disney industries, ranging from movies and television, toys, and themed attractions and theme parks, as well multitides of other Disney properties. These children will be ready to experience Disney for their whole lives and transpose this upon their children, like their parents before did to them – it’s the Disney family life cycle.
Personal Citation: I was tasked to observe and to study predatory marketing for research and student awareness with information provided by HBS.
WOO HOO! Great comment!
What are you nuts…that id’s not the point of any of the disney movies…they are simply fun, magical love stories, with amazing beautiful art work and power fully up lifting songs…you have read too much into it and got the wrong message…too much negatively is not good for your children…think positive happy thoughts…Disney’s message has always been positive…because my children were introduced to Disney very young…as teens and young adults now still love all Disney movies, my daughter is even going to college at SCAD, to be an animator, and someday work for Disney…inspiration, imagination, creativity…these are the messages we get from watching Disney movies…now go have a magical day!
The reason originally for no mothers was that Walt felt guilty about his own mother’s death, that he felt responsible for. I grew up watching Disney movies. I lived overseas with no tv shows, before the Internet. I watched all the movies over and over again. I don’t feel like a man needs to save me. If anything it’s a good starting point for a conversation if you actually think your kid is picking up on that message. A lot of the stories we know are actually a much watered down, tamer version of the original. I’m not a racist. With Regards to the racism, you are looking at it with a modern eye. We know slavery and racism are a horrible part of our history. At the time it happened, it wasn’t. I could go on and on about things we deem as horrible. Why did lots of people have slaves? Why was racism so rampant? Because it wasn’t seen as wrong at the time by the entire population. Please get off your high horse about your reasoning, or at least don’t try and guilt trip the rest of us that are glad to raise their child on Disney movies.
“We know slavery and racism are a horrible part of our history. At the time it happened, it wasn’t. I could go on and on about things we deem as horrible. Why did lots of people have slaves? Why was racism so rampant? Because it wasn’t seen as wrong at the time by the entire population.”
WHAT? Slavery was ALWAYS horrible. It’s wasn’t ok at the time and in no way is it ok now. Also, the “entire population” did not see slavery as ok. If they did, it would have been rampant all over the country and not just in the South. Only a small amount a wealthy landowners were ok with it and only because it was making them money. That doesn’t make it ok to put it in a movie. I don’t know of many pre-Civil war Disney movies as well.
Also, at no point did the author try to guilt people about letting their child watch Disney movies. That is your own projection on the article. All she was getting across is that Disney movies have some pretty heavy themes under all the sparkly colors and cheerful songs and that her young child is not ready to handle those.
Hi, Rachel. You kind of proved the point of the author. You grew up watching these movies that have racist, whitewashing undertones. You see no problem with it. You don’t see the racism. This is EXACTLY what the author wants to prevent in her children. It’s what I want to prevent in my children. I want them to be present in the world with eyes open to how things like Disney affect those who are different than us. I want them to be aware that their friends may not be as well represented in entertainment and media and that many of the times they are represented, it’s as stereotypical tropes. I want my children to be better than I have been, and I want them to help make change in our world, not perpetuate subliminal oppression.
Really, really???? Stop it. Its a damn Disney movie, your kid doesn’t understand race, or the damsel in distress. ..get over it… and by the time they do understand it…they’re not watching Disney flicks….get a grip!
Behold everyone. .. the reason behind the current generation who can’t handle life…everybody’s a winner. .. and the now now now complex!
While I’m disappointed, I’m not surprised by some of the comments on this post. People freak out whenever anyone criticizes something they love, especially when it’s something that’s seen as sparkly, happy, magical, etc. People get crazy when someone thinks critically about Disney.
I am so grateful for this post, though. I really struggle with how my husband and I are going to raise children who are aware of their privilege and will use it to give a voice to those who are being ignored. I struggle with the ridiculous racism, whitewashing, and oppression that runs through most of our children’s entertainment. This post raises some really important points that my husband and I want to seriously consider.
To those who commented above, be aware that it is your privilege to act scathingly toward this post. You are part of the problem. When you excuse things like this as “Its a damn Disney movie, your kid doesn’t understand race, or the damsel in distress. ..get over it…” or “they are simply fun, magical love stories, with amazing beautiful art work and power fully up lifting songs…you have read too much into it and got the wrong message” and “Disney’s message has always been positive,” you are perpetuating racism and oppression. It is not JUST a kids movie. It is not JUST happy magical music. It is problematic, and we need to think long and hard about what this message is.
no it kinda is just for fun. let me remind you of the definition of entertainment:
noun. the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.
Disney is not meant to reveal some life mystery
was Walt Disney racist? yes. was Walt Disney sexist? probably. was he trying to whitewash all children into thinking that all moms are evil, white is superior, and females are weak? no.
these topics should definitely be conversations we should have with our husbands and our kids, but just blocking it out is not the answer.
i am doing a research paper for school about how corporations such as Disney influence our children’s happiness and well being.
the most important note that i have found is moderation and communication.
contrary to rachel, i am proud of all these moms.
you saw an issue, and searched about. had questions/comments, and you questioned/commented.
some extreme? yes. some i dont agree with? yes.
but it is important that we get our ideas out there so each parent can decide what is best for their kids and not decide for someone else’s.
i step off my soap box now.
have a blessed day.
To answer your question: Do you let your kids watch Disney films? Yes.
As a step-mother I have struggled to break the “evil step-mother” image my kiddos have learned through not only Disney films but tons of other entertainment avenues. We have had long conversations about it- my 4 girls & I. I admit I’m wishing for a Disney movie with a kind & nice mother roll in it… Or better yet positive step-mother roll. However, our family still loves Disney & the lessons we learn.
Disney characters used to smoke, back when it was a more popular & accepted habit in society. Now you do not see it very often if at all in Disney cartoons or movies. “You do what you know until you know better and then you do better.” Disney is a part of American History & evolves just as we do- even making mistakes along the way.
With an issue like this I think it’s all in how you look at it. Each parent & family will have to decide what is best for them & respect different opinions.
amen
I agree with the author completely and Disney continues to get away with the same thing. Even with their attempt at finally having a black princess was an epic failure. Look, at Disney current shows and you will notice black people don’t really exist. You will be lucky if you see 4 black people as extra besides the one black friend of one of the main characters.
I’ve had 6 kids ranging in ages from 24 years to 1 year.
They’re going to see these movies. They’re going to ask questions. You shouldn’t shield them from the world. That doesn’t teach them the coping mechanisms they need to interact with their peers when they go off to school. Unless you plan to home school them. Then how will they learn to interact with their coworkers when they’re grown? Unless you own a huge company that will employ them. How will they find a wife/husband? Someone in the company, or relative? Eventually, they’re going to have to learn people skills.
It’s too much, let them use their imaginations, come to their own conclusions. We joke about it at our house. Oh, a new Disney movie? Who’d they kill off this time, mom? dad? both? And then we discuss how it’s wrong to do that in every movie, it’s just what they do to make money.
It’s just a part of our culture in our time.
I’m just glad we’re over the whole Pompeii civilization. Did you see what kind of artwork and dishes the kids saw everyday? Ewww.
Nope, my kids really don’t see Disney movies because they are depressing. The world has enough sadness, I don’t need to pay money to see more. Ditto about offing the moms also. I never understood that.
The only Disney movie I can remember taking them to was Frozen. I thought it was okay. The best thing to come out of Frozen though is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOxuVK3pjMk