#1 Introduction

Are you one of the children that has grown up with all of the Disney Movies?

Is it hard just to pick one of your favourites?
Snow White?
Cinderella?
Or probably Elsa from Frozen?

Do you randomly find yourself singing a Disney song in your head?
Yes right?

Walt Disney has made a huge impact on the lives of children in multiple generations and is still making an impact on adults as well. Countless movies have been produced to serve different life lessons and morals for the audience to take away with them. Since Disney movies have such a huge impact on children for all ages, why is there a crowd that is so against them and think that they convey the wrong messages to the children?

Do we realise there's something hidden behind all of the Disney Movies?

I am not here to condemn all of the Disney Movies but this topic really interested me since I was and still am a Disney fan. The movies definitely have made a huge impact on my life, but not in a bad way. But, thinking of other situations for other children, is it the impact is in a good or bad way?   

Yes! I always wanted to become a Disney Princess and pretend that a prince was going to come and rescue me, but I knew that there is a different between the movies and real life. 

Disney's princesses

Multiple people believe that Walt Disney is racist . They believe that only white people are represented by Disney and that the woman in the movies are seen as the typical "damsel in distress". Yes, this is the case for many of the early Disney princesses, such as Aurora, Snow White and Belle. Few think that this messes with girls' mind saying if they don't look like the stereotypical princesses, they aren't beautiful. But do these pessimists forget about the Disney movies that don't involve a princess that is white. Mula, Pocahontas and Jasmine from Aladdin are some of the movies that involve people of different ethnic backgrounds. Everyone is represented, so there isn't a need to feel that Disney gravitates to only one ethnic background.

How about the perspective of Disney Movies is sexist? 

Some consider Disney movies sexist because the princess is usually in some type of trouble is considered weak and needs a man to save her in the end. The most clear example is Sleeping Beauty. She pricks her finger on the spinning and is put to sleep. The only way that she can be saved is to be kissed by a prince. I think that this shows little girls that they are incapable of accomplishing anything on their own. Another example is Belle from Beauty and the Beast. The negative thinking audience believes that Belle is in an abusive relationship with the Beast and there is nothing she can do about it. Once Belle is set free to take care of her father, she returns very quickly, which is what most victims of abuse do. I also think that there is sexism in the Little Mermaid. I can see the sexism in Ariel. Ariel changes her physical appearance just to be with them she loves. By sacrificing her voice and signing Ursula's contract, she is representing women's sacrifice of their voice and opinions for the happiness of the man in their lives. 

I personally feel that Disney movies are good for children to watch because it is a break from reality for them to get lost in a different world where anything is possible. Children can be whatever they want and don't let anyone or anything get in their way. But, everything that created have their own bad and good. Good in Disney movies have been watched and discover by us but bad in Disney movies is not viral and we have to start beware of what we watch and what we hear. This post is the beginning of this topic and let other post continue this topic and until we can simplify the bad and good in Disney movies. 

 

By Nurul Athifah binti Mad Norizan