cultural stereotypes in disney movies
Disney may not be making the judgment that these forms of masculinity seen in Gaston or Hercules are desirable, but the corporation is making a statement on what masculinity looks like, and in doing so presenting an unattainable standard and alienating a large demographic of men. So going forward, several such films on the Disney+ streaming service will include the following advisory: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. The Racist Aspects of the Disney Movies. CBS News has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for more information. She explores the sea with her friends and saves Flounder and Prince Eric from drowning. Once she develops a crush on Eric and is briefly transformed into a human, however, she turns into a quiet, lovesick puppy, spending most of her time obsessing over the prince and staring wide-eyed in admiration at him — and he is totally into this version of Ariel. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. In Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, one of the seven dwarfs is straight up named Dopey, and each and every one of them is portrayed as a hapless dummy who can't take care of himself. "Disney is quite pervasive within our modern culture,â says Martyn Griffin, an expert on the cultural perceptions of work and organisation at Durham University in the UK. Her demeanor changes from bold to submissive, and her former interest in human culture narrows to just seeking out a kiss. There's nothing wrong with being white and/or skinny, but growing up, we were exposed to heroines who all looked remarkably similar. From outdated ideas about gender roles, to offensive representations of other cultures, let's take a look. Disney said it created an advisory council made up of outside experts who helped the company "assess our content and ensure it accurately represents our global audiences." The depictions of the characters are by and large ignorant and backward-thinking: The Sultan lets Jafar walk all over him and control him, thinks his daughter needs a man to take care of her and is seen playing with his toys or generally acting doofy. We get it, Internet: You love Disney. (Which also buys into the racist and sexist idea that non-white women are all sexual or animalistic.). But it's a caveat that doesn't apply to men in most Disney movies: Women can be brave, but they must also have stereotypical lady qualities and maintain a pretty face all the while. Disney is spreading a few different stereotypes with this focus: Women need men to save them; saving a woman makes you a man; and that only men are capable of protecting others from harm or danger. Disney is spreading a few different stereotypes with this focus: Women need men to save them; saving a woman makes you a man; and that only men are capable of protecting others from harm or danger. These sidekicks are often given more "feminine" qualities: They offer advice to the hero, listen to his woes and are more caring or sensitive. Disney seems to have learned from some of these mistakes, but looking at all these stereotypes together definitely sheds some light on the way of thinking we grew up on and what was considered normal just a decade or two ago. In their continued effort to promote diversity and inclusion, Disney has made select films unavailable on childrenâs Disney+ profiles due to negative cultural depictions, particularly racist stereotypes. Sure, this new generation gets all the progressive glories of Frozen, but our Disney musicals were entertaining yet riddled with stereotypes. Now, it admits they were not just "outdated" but "wrong" even back then — and that such negative portrayals had a harmful impact in real life. 9. Megara from Hercules has the most impossibly tiny waist you will ever see. A gender role can be described as the behaviours, attitudes and beliefs that a particular culture associates with the roles of men and women. Disney was chosen because through its history, the roles of men and women pictured in their films have mirrored the cultural perspective and beliefs of social norms and expectations on gender roles and identity. Disney+ has made moves to block children from accessing films like Peter Pan, Dumbo, The Aristocats, and Swiss Family Robinson because of their depiction of negative stereotypes. Mulan and Pocahontas are two badass, warrior women and yet the films take pains to make sure we know they also are loving (demonstrated through relationships with men, and let's not even get started on the historical inaccuracies of the Pocahontas/John Smith thing) or understanding of the fact that their strength is shameful or atypical. ... Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich ⦠The warning was added to "Peter Pan," "The Jungle Book," and other movies on Disney Plus in 2020. The crows in Dumbo. The stereotype examples Yanko use touch on everything from political concerns, like the development of the European Union, to cultural stereotypes, like the Hellenocentric view that Greece gave Europe its culture. ... Maybe it is because of the books and movies we grow up ⦠In January, Disney blocked children younger than 7 from watching some classic animated movies including âPeter Pan,â âDumboâ and âThe Aristocats.â The move was made because of concerns that the films show racist stereotypes. Movies such as Disneyâs 1992 hit âAladdinâ also faced protests from Arab groups who said the film depicted Middle Easterners as barbaric and backward. Disney would have you believe that being small and waif-ish makes you gentle and kind, and that being large makes you beastly, coarse and/or prone to angry outbursts as demonstrated by characters like Beauty and the Beast's Belle and Beast. Sleeping Beauty is another big offender: Aurora and Prince Phillip instantly fall in love upon meeting, spend absolutely no time getting to know anything about each other, and then live happily ever after. Many people have long said certain Disney classics like Peter Pan, Dumbo and The Aristocats contain racist stereotypes and overtones.. Disney agrees. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Attractiveness is synonymous with happiness. Two of the best examples of this stereotype can be found in Hercules and Beauty and the Beast with Hercules and Gaston (there's no man in town half as manly). The labeling of national stereotypes makes the mapâs primary subject. Findings indicate that gender, racial, and cultural stereotypes have persisted over time in Disney films. When rapper Kreayshawnâs single âGucci, Gucciâ begin to earn buzz in 2011, a number of critics accused her of cultural appropriation. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. Each of the four films now being examined share the same content warning: âThis program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. Below, you'll find nine of the most harmful Disney stereotypes we watched on repeat during our childhood. She literally becomes mute when she trades her voice to the evil sea-witch Ursula in exchange for legs (so that she can live a human life with Eric). Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. Literally all Aurora does to receive "true love's kiss" is be beautiful. ET. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Disney is adding a disclaimer to some of its old movies that include racist stereotypes, the media giant announced this month. Disney has been accused of anti-Semitism, although none of his employeesâincluding the animator Art Babbitt, who disliked Disney intenselyâever accused him of making anti-Semitic slurs or taunts. This representation of masculinity as an attractive man with big muscles and nice hair (who is usually white) is often paired with a foil played by a small and/or fat male character that plays comic relief — Phil, Lefou, Timon and Pumbaa and even Heimlich — implying that their size and characteristics are considerably less "masculine." October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM The American stereotype map labels ⦠In the content warning featured at the start of these movies on the adult contents, Disney acknowledges the harmful stereotypes while explaining the decision to keep the movies available to watch. The Disney Movies You Grew Up with Are Incredibly Racist 01/09/2015 73 SpongeBob Is a Tampon + Other Conspiracy Theories That Will Change the Way You See Bikini Bottom Forever 09/15/2015 This also implies that the opposite is true: Non-whiteness and non-thinness is unwanted, undesirable, evil and unattractive. There's obviously nothing wrong with a woman being all these things; it's very human. Other men in the movie are shown as sword-swallowers, coal-walkers, snake-charmers, crooks or swindlers; women are confined (in revealing clothes) to the home to do laundry. Other companies and brands, like Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben's, have also recently taken steps to recognize and distance themselves from racist stereotypes by changing their branding in the wake of widespread protests for racial justice in the U.S. First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. Wizart Animation, the successful Russian studio behind the well-known Snow Queen franchise â is preparing new animated feature releases for its global audience. All of these movies remain available to stream on adult Disney+ profiles with an offensive content disclaimer, reading, "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Yes, Beast is, well, a beast, but his juxtaposition with tiny Belle implies that one's literal body size affects mood, essentially teaching children that fat people are mean and angry, and skinny people are sweet and nice. This has a host of implications: That thinness and whiteness makes you valuable, prosperous, moral and beautiful. The company said that while it can't change he past, "we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together.". This sends a message that when it comes to love and affection, it's what's on the outside that counts. In October, Disney Plus added an expanded content warning to some movies. Settings on the streaming siteâs app will deter children from watching the once-loved, now controversial, titles. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. 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Whether the noble Indian is shedding a tear for a 1960s' environmental public service commercial or being saved by the great white hope Captain John Smith in the recent Disney movie Pocahontas, hints of self-pity and romanticism continue to haunt American Indians in film. ", Disney said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." The message here, kids: Don't be yourself if you want someone to fall in love with you. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. According to the Disney website, âPeter Panâ was included because âThe film portrays Native people in a stereotypical manner that reflects neither the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions. Disney Plus added a disclaimer for stereotypes and negative cultural depictions in 18 episodes. The message warns that the movies contain racial stereotypes that "were wrong then and are wrong now," and that the content perpetuates "negative depictions" of people and cultures. Men are saving women in practically every Disney movie ever made (usually with a kiss). The Walt Disney Family Museum acknowledges that ethnic stereotypes common to films of the 1930s were ⦠Disney acknowledged that its film 'Dumbo' contained racist stereotypes Today's adults remember watching Disney movies such as Peter Pan , Dumbo or The Jungle Book. While the Disney princess list now includes a handful of non-white women — Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, notably — the "major" Disney princesses that most 20-somethings grew up with were pretty effing white (white as snow, if you will) and very thin. Concurrent with the notion that outward beauty is most important is the message that this beauty has a specific look: thin and white. But don't be blinded: Beneath the smiles, flowers and singing woodland creatures of the classic Disney oeuvre from our youth lies a host of stereotypes that shaped our generation. Snow White saves these slovenly adults from their pigsty by dusting, sweeping, washing dishes, tidying and sprucing — tasks that the dwarfs apparently never learned from their mother (since women must teach men how to do all the things). In The Lion King, Simba is called on to save pretty much everyone (no pressure). Equally important: Though men don't play central roles in these two examples, being handsome is always a stipulation for being a desirable prince in a Disney movie. Rather than removing the offensive content, the company said it hopes to "spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. "The Muppet Show" is now streaming on Disney Plus. This is arguably the message of most Disney films, but it's exemplified most in Cinderella, where the basic plot of the story is that a prince sees her all dolled up, thinks she's super cute and falls in love with her on the spot. ", The movies that will now start with the disclaimer include "Aristocats," which features racist caricatures of East Asian peoples; "Dumbo," in which the crow characters perform a musical number in the style of racist minstrel shows; "Peter Pan," for its stereotypical portrayal of Native peoples; and "Swiss Family Robinson," in which pirates are portrayed as a stereotypical foreign menace, many in "yellow face" or "brown face.". In Tangled, Rapunzel is saved from a life of sequestered boredom by a charming bandit; Ariel is saved by Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid; Aurora is saved by Prince Phillip in Sleeping Beauty; Wendy and her brothers are saved from growing up in Peter Pan; Snow White is saved by a nameless prince ... you get the idea. DISNEY+ has stripped its children's movie selection of classic movies like Dumbo, The Aristocats, and Peter Pan because of their âracistâ stereotypes. For one, Jasmine's clothing is extremely revealing compared to cultural and historic norms, and the women in the movie are all portrayed as sexy, exotic dancing sirens. The Middle East is shown as a brutal place full of brutal people. The words were changed in 1993 after being deemed racist. Rather than remove this content, we want to ⦠At that time, it simply noted, "This program is presented as originally created. Disney has pulled some of its classic films from Disney Plus because they feature reductive stereotypes, as part of its Stories Matter initiative. This cultural belief that women are "soft" or "need support" or are in some other way inferior beings may be far less apparent than in earlier time periods, but the tendency to ascribe a gender bias to jobs or personality traits is still engrained in society. principles in a sample of 26 full-length animated Disney films. In most Disney films, men are not called upon to be anything but strong (sometimes additionally smart or clever, or just handsome). Disney+ removed several movies, including Dumbo and Peter Pan, from children's profiles over stereotypes deemed offensive. The new statement is more strongly worded than one Disney tacked onto some films when Disney+ first rolled out last year. It may contain outdated cultural depictions." But in Disney films like Mulan and Pocahontas, the stories revolves around strong female leads, and there's a double standard. Gender roles are in fact assigned by society, leading to ascribed cultural stereotypes. / CBS News, Disney is adding a disclaimer to some of its old movies that include racist stereotypes, the media giant announced this month. They argued Kreayshawn and her crew, known as the âWhite Girl Mob,â were acting out Black stereotypes. Women must also demonstrate kindness, thoughtfulness, gentleness and humility — femaleness, essentially — in order to be acceptable "strong female" characters. According to the Disney website, âPeter Panâ was included because âThe film portrays Native people in a stereotypical manner that reflects neither the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as âredskins,â ⦠In addition to those older films, it's also included at the start of "Aladdin," the animated blockbuster from 1992. Aladdin would have you believe a long list of stereotypes of Arab culture. Disney seems to (ever so slowly) be catching on and adding more variety to their characters, but there's still an incredible amount of work to be done if young women are to have relateable characters to look up to. While Gaston doesn't woo Belle with his hairy, manly chest, it's clear he is meant to represent a man's man. Native American Stereotypes in Hollywood Indigenous peoples are a diverse racial group with a range of customs and cultural experiences. Subsequently, sex role stereotypes are determined by the cultural beliefs about ⦠She ultimately "gets" the prince, but at the expense of having totally revised her personality and leaving her friends, family and world behind. While Hollywood no longer portrays American Indians as ⦠Disney, therefore, becomes a great illustration and representation of following cultural trends and developments. Updated at 5:49 p.m. In efforts to appease to the progressive left, Disney+ removed some of the most classic movies from the kids online selection because of what the company considers wrongful stereotypes. To many, the 1941 movie Dumbo is an animated Disney classic inextricably linked to childhood fantasy. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as âredskins,â ⦠In The Little Mermaid, Ariel starts out as a brave, curious, and adventurous young mermaid. Disney Adds Warnings for Racist Stereotypes to Some Older Films âThese stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now,â a 12-second disclaimer on the Disney+ streaming service reads. The original lyrics of the opening song, "Arabian Nights," actually included the lines "I come from a land/From a faraway place/Where they cut off your ear/If they don't like your face/It's barbaric, but hey, it's home." Few examples of positive portrayals emerged, but wereincreasingly common inlater films.Marginalized groups werepor- In October, Disney Plus added an expanded content warning to some movies. Disney added a new advisory message that plays before six movies on its Disney Plus streaming platform.