Are Disney Films Sexist?
Disney has released many timeless films over the years,
classics that we’ll still be watching in a hundred years’ time. They usually
have the hero’s prevail and give a good message but one issue has always been
lingering over these films, that argument of sexism. While some people would just
say that it’s just a kids film and it shouldn’t be taken so seriously many,
myself included would argue that kids look to role models and good examples
should be prevalent to a growing child. Not only that but media already
indulges stereotypes too much, surely it’d be a good thing for adults also to
have characters they can relate too. Today I’m going to look into this issue.
Firstly what films do things wrong? Sleeping Beauty stands
out in my head as the typical Princess. She gets rescued by a prince and has no
real personality, she’s just there because she has to be. Not exactly an
interesting character to put things likely. Many early princess stories from
Disney get hit with similar criticism, Snow White and Cinderella are often said
to be poor role models. I however am not so sure.
Snow White while does end with the falling in love happily ever
after thing does have some very admirable qualities. She acts as a motherly
figure to the dwarves, she takes care of them and is often working as a Mother.
Is this really a sexist character, a kind person who is always working away to take
care of her loved ones? Cinderella is similar, she’s working non-stop while on
screen and treated awfully but after working hard is rewarded with her own
happily ever after. Then again I would assume it’s the falling in love with the
prince that’s the sexist bit. However I think that saying this is a poor role
model to children is not looking at the full picture. Firstly these stories
were written a long time ago when this sort of thing was more acceptable, more
importantly however I would argue it’s understandable that someone in the
position of one of these characters would want something like that.
Walt Dinsey’s favourite fairy tale was Cinderella because
she works hard for a long time and then is rewarded with everything she ever wanted.
I think that’s a good message to have, working hard brings good outcomes. Is it
also worth noting that the princess falling in love in a few glances is an
argument that goes both ways, it happens to the prince too. I’ve never really
saw this as a sexist event in a film, rather an exaggeration of what real
people really want. What is the purpose of a fairy tale? To tell a story to make
us feel good and let us enter the world of the story in our imaginations? Is it
sexist to say that going to a place in our imagination where you are loved and
rewarded is a bad thing? A child imagination is an incredible thing, these don’t
make them think a man will do everything for them, rather it helps them imagine
and believe in good.
These are old films, newer films have really made an effort
to make the female characters more real and interesting. The Princess and the
Frog is a fine example, the male and female leads in that films are portrayed
as equals in ability despite their different classes and upbringings and they
work better together than apart. Neither were bland stereotypes, both were interesting
characters with flaws and goals. I never found Belle that interesting because
she was a little too prefect but I didn’t have that problem with the Princess
and the Frog. Frozen goes one step further by having Anna and Elsa’s relationship
having such focus as well as making the typical prince the villain and forming
a romantic relationship over time. Both these films are trying to have good
role models for kids without sacrificing character to do so and while I like
the Princess and the Frog a lot more than Frozen both have good intentions in
their morals and messages.
One film I do take issue with in this discussion is the
little mermaid. Ariel in that films spends loads of time whining and expecting
to get everything she wants and unlike Cinderella or Snow White she never has
to work. She never grows as a character either, Ariel wants the prince so Ariel
gets him and forget consequences for all her selfish actions. This I think is a
lot more sexist than many of the films people take issue with.
I could mention more examples but I think all this boils
down to what you consider sexist in what are designed to be family films. The happily
ever after ending is used to make people feel good and pleased for the
characters, not to degrade women. The important thing I think is what people take
away from the experience, not necessarily everything that happened. People recall
that Cinderella married the Prince, not worked hard to get to that point in the
first place. What’s important to remember is how many people enjoy these films
and characters for being interesting and fun. A lot of these female characters
have their flaws or obstacle to overcome in situations we will never be in but
they’re more interesting for this. Giving your female character flaws doesn’t
make you sexist, it makes the character more interesting and relatable to
people.
If you’re sat there thinking I’m just one of those ignorant
males then you know what, maybe you’re right, I don’t know what other people are
offended by but personally I don’t see much issue with sexism in Disney. Take
that for what it is but I would like to hear the other side of the argument if
you disagree. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to like the Facebook page
linked below.
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