The cultural component of society is in a peculiar situation. Since 1924, dozens of generations of people are influenced by the work of Walt Disney since early childhood. The philosophical messages of the animator are firmly fixed in the mind of the child, which leads to the fact that he or she grows up with specific attitudes. This work aims to discuss the manifestation of sexism towards women, which should be changed in the work of Disney.
Most of the works show the oppression of women’s rights and women in general, which is confirmed by the absence of a mother’s archetype. In the stories of Disney’s most popular characters, such as Ariel from Little Mermaid, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and others, the characters have no mother. However, even if the mother as a character is present, her role is invisible and unimportant compared to her father, which is especially noticeable in “Sleeping Beauty” or “The Lion King.”
Disney Company positions itself as a source of preservation of family traditions transmitted from parents to children through watching a movie. However, deprived of courage and determination, the woman in the universe of cartoonists is subordinate to male chauvinism. Studies show that most children under the age of eleven have a robust idealistic attitude in their minds that only men should possess the qualities of a hero (Gutierrez et al. 5). This situation raises concerns about the role of women in society and should be reviewed.
While emphasizing the above, it should be noted that most of Walt Disney’s classic works were created in the middle of the last century. When thinking about the changes that could be brought to life in animated films, one should bear in mind the cultural code that was laid down at the time of the creation of such movies. Today’s Disney employees understand this and focus their new work not only on men but on women as well. Furthermore, it is recommended to edit and add scenes describing the characters of women as strong and independent.
At an early age, the process of socialization and acceptance of society’s moral attitudes is most active. For this reason, most children, having watched Disney’s classic films, believe that only a man should be a hero and show courage, but not a woman. If we had the opportunity to change the American animator’s films, they would have added scenes with the discovery of female characters.
Work Cited
Gutierrez, Brenda C., et al. “The Heroes and the Helpless: The Development of Benevolent Sexism in Children.” Sex Roles, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 1-12.