One would think that the children stories are made for kids to be entertained, but more importantly to learn from them. On the contrary, Disney does not focus on causing a learning outcome in their audience. For example, in their princess stories we can perceive erroneous information such as historical context, perception of beauty and idea of women. The company by portraying these fallacious information causes the future generations to grow up with a wrong idea of how the past used to be and how they should act.
Historical Context
Pocahontas
Pocahontas, is a film about an eighteen year old Native-American woman who falls in love with John Smith, a British colonist. Another important character is Grandmother Willow which is a tree who tells Pocahontas what will happen and also the girl talks to her about her thoughts and dreams.
Whereas, In reality the indigenous girl was actually about 12 years old and the only emotional relationship between these two characters (in history) is that she saves him from being killed. Since he comes to the new world looking for gold. Evidently, there are no talking trees that can perceive the future, meaning that it is a false idea this movie portrayed to their young viewers.
Moreover, the way the characters were dressed by Disney is completely different as to what these people used to wear. For example, the aboriginal woman in the movie wore a beige dress while women would not cover their breast and only their genital area.
Jasmine
Aladdin, is a story that takes place in a Middle Eastern country. Although the time period is not stated, one knows that in these places the population practice Islam. In this religion women are supposed to wear a burka, niqab, chador, dupatta or hijab because the Koran states it. According to the ABC news, "The Koran calls for both men and women to 'cover and be modest'." but that they are not obligated to fully cover themselves.
Nonetheless, this is for the modern population while Aladdin takes place Before Christ. This means that the clothing Jasmine wear does not match with the ideology the Middle Eastern community has. This information allows girls to have a misconception of what the Arabs really look like.
Idea of Women
Women have been always discriminated by men, for example, their rights to vote and work came a large period later for the feminine gender. Even now, women do not have equal salaries to men while doing exactly the same work. This idea of women is not only socially taught to girls but also by the media. Since Disney is a mass media company, the princesses play an important role on this perception. Considering that young girls grow up watching these animated films, they aspire to become their favorite princess when they are adults.
In this situation, Cinderella is a great example because she spends her day cleaning after her stepmother and stepsisters. When little girls see this, they picture themselves doing the same when they grow older. It is not a shameful work at all but these girls should see themselves enjoying their lives as adult, doing what they want to do and not what someone else sends them to do.
Likewise, Sleeping Beauty also shows a false idea of women. The story is about a princess who is sleeping because of a spell and that can only awake with a kiss of true love. The climax of plot is when a man kisses her causing the spell to end. Aurora waits for a long time for this man to arrive and that is what young girls do as well. They understand that only with a man by their sides, they will be successful in life. In reality women can be as successful and even more by being alone and independent, but because the arrival of the man is what it is emphasized in the movie, it creates the idea that a man means the climax of a woman's life.
Perception of Beauty
Villains
It is important to realize that media plays a big role on the perception of women's beauty. Disney princesses are the ones who portray an image of what a beautiful lady has to look like. They are all slim, perfect cutis, flawless hair and no imperfection whatsoever. Since, their young audience idolizes the princesses, they will want to be as pretty as they are, which is impossible.
Also, villains are always characterized as ugly beings. For instance, in the Little Mermaid the antagonist is a fat and horrifying lady. This allows for children to relate fat people with evil when this relationship is not always true, in fact probably in very few circumstances. Then again, it creates discrimination towards overweight people because in children films these persons are the ones hated by the viewers.
Raze
The generations that grew up during 1937 and the beginning of the 21st century, most likely defines beauty with caucasian looks, because the first animation Disney published was Snow White. Furthermore, not only until the year 2009, they publish Princess and the Frog, which is the first movie starred by an African-American character. Therefore, the perception of beauty created by Disney, throughout all those generations is centered in white skinned girls.
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