As a child, there is nothing more exciting than popping in a film and hearing a dreamlike song ring from the speakers while a magical blue castle fills the screen. That is how you know you are about to experience Disney magic in its purest form. Recently though, there have been many instances of the media condemning Disney for instilling norms and values that some deem to be destructive and negative to our youth. Issues such as gender roles and sexism, body image, and the idea of reality have all been scrutinized by many viewers of Disney media. Being such an influential and prevalent part of American culture, it is inevitable that the company will be analyzed for bigger issues they stand for. However, at the root of these films what remains is positivity and optimism. The Disney company is not perfect. It is still a corporation and thus is capital oriented, and throughout history it has stood for many different values and taken many different stances. However, the basis of the company and its films is to provide society with media that is optimistic, positive, and embodies the American Dream as opposed to being degrading and negative in nature as many have recently claimed. 

The Disney company has been captivating the hearts of audiences since 1923. From humble beginnings in a small office in Los Angeles to being the worldwide corporation it is today, Disney has always been near and dear to the hearts of the American public. Disney movies and media are essential to American culture as a whole because they connect the past and the future, and have been a constant conveyor of the American Dream in a culture and society that can often be filled with depression (Mollet). Throughout history, the company has influenced the lives of Americans. The corporation made its start by producing shorts and cartoons. The majority of these focused on a protagonist who embodied the “common man” on his journey to overcome an obstacle. It appealed to the audience of that generation who were cultivating their lives and were excited to start their journeys in a place where they could achieve manifest destiny. During World War II, the company produced a wide variety of propaganda and goods to support the U.S. war efforts. Disney propaganda was so widely produced and seen that “Mickey Mouse and friends joined the ranks of the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam as faces of our nation” (Bemis). During times of depression, Disney remained a constant in the lives of Americans as a way to remain encouraged and steadfast in the “American way”. These ideas of optimism and positivity have always been prevalent in Disney films. However, recent media developments have begun to be more skeptical of Disney’s intentions. It has become a widespread idea in some current media outlets that classic Disney films strip children of their sense of reality and give them unrealistic expectations of society and self. These issues are ultimately not the message trying to be conveyed to the audience. Different films in various time periods have stood for many different things throughout history, but they all essentially boil down to happy endings and positivity in a society that desperately craves a sense of hope and security. 

Historically, Disney has always been an aspect of American culture that has encouraged people in times of success as well as distress. In more recent media, however, Disney is being scrutinized for issues that exceed the realm of the Magic Kingdom. Many claim that Disney films are harmful to youth and their sense of self. Claiming that Disney establishes steadfast roles that take away their creativity and force them into gender molds (Hains). The idea that Disney creates gender roles and establishes the idea that women cannot think or function without the intervention of men is not an accurate analyzation of the norms and beliefs Disney is trying to convey with their films. Leah Anderson, in her presentation, Effects of Disney’s Gender Stereotyping, claims that Disney films strip women of their sense of creativity and independence. Anderson claims that in classic Disney movies, specifically mentioning Beauty and the Beast (the scene in which Gaston tells Belle she should not concern herself with reading or thinking), there is a norm established that women cannot think or act for themselves. This statement is actually the exact opposite of the ideas and values the film is trying to convey. If Disney were trying to claim that women should not be reading and should not have ideas of their own, the film would not have Gaston as the antagonist and Belle would have ended up marrying him. The exact opposite is true. The film actually shows that women can be strong, empowered, and intellectual. They use this scene as the foundation of showing how Belle wants “much more than this provincial life,” (“Belle”) and is not satisfied with the role given to her and other women in society. The claim that this scene/film exemplifies that women have nothing more to offer and that men should take care of everything is false. It is showing the exact opposite and exemplifying characteristics of strength, intelligence, and courage. Belle exemplifies what it means to have a thirst for knowledge and ambitions to better herself and her cultivate her mind. In fact, one of the main reasons she begins to see that “there may be something there that was not there before” with the Beast was after he showed her his library and gave her access to the books inside it. This conveyed the idea that women can think for themselves and be interested in intellectual matters. The Disney company has transitioned with the time period and have shown through films like Beauty and the Beast that women do not have to be confined by traditional gender roles. 

The idea that “princess culture” teaches women to be weak is an idea that has circulated through the media. Sarah Coyne and her colleagues produced a study where they tested the behaviors of 198 children in order to determine the influence the “princess culture” has on them. They found that children who were more involved in princess culture were more likely to behave in more feminine ways and engage in more feminine behaviors, regardless of whether the child was a boy or girl. The researchers who conducted this study assessed that girls engaging in more feminine behaviors due to princess culture was a bad thing, however, they determined that boys engaging in these behaviors was a good thing. They claimed that for little girls to act more feminine than they are already naturally inclined to be is a bad thing, but for a boy to act in more feminine ways, it helps that individual boy to be more well-rounded. A mother was interviewed by the New York Times about where she stood on the issues in this study. The mother explained how she formerly believed that her daughter being influenced by the princess culture would have negative impacts, however, her daughter made her realize that just because something is feminine does not mean it is bad. She said that her daughter made her realize that princesses have good qualities and can be a good influence too. Princesses teach kindness, intelligence, and problem solving (Dell’Antonia). All good strong qualities to possess regardless of gender. Claiming that princesses making young girls act more feminine is a bad thing (Sieczkowski) is actually accomplishing the exact opposite goal of what they are intending. We should celebrate femininity in all forms. A woman choosing to express her womanhood by being a mother, a business-woman, or anything in-between should be lifted up. We should not be degrading anyone for making their own choice, or claiming that they are less if they chose one route over the other. By claiming Disney princesses have a negative effect on girls because they make them “more feminine than they already are” (Coyne 1909-1925), the actual message being sent to young girls is that they should be ashamed to be feminine. They are saying that girls should be trying to adapt to be less feminine instead of celebrating the good characteristics that are associated with womanhood and any way that this can be expressed. This is not the message we should be sending young girls and this is not the message Disney is promoting.

Similar to this idea of gender roles, the idea that films create unhealthy body images for children, especially young girls, has been analyzed and condemned by many sources of media. Anderson claims Disney promotes the idea that the only thing that is important is a woman’s body. She supports this claim by using the example of Ariel from The Little Mermaid. She states Ariel gave up her voice just so she could have nice legs, which in-turn shows children that the only thing that is important is having a “beautiful” body. This claim is not true. Ariel gave up her voice to obtain freedom. She no longer wanted to be content with the role she was given and therefor wanted to experience more. Her choosing to leave the sea had nothing to do with the fact that she was given legs and a new body, it was the opportunities this new body and life would give her that she desired. Ariel’s decision to be human did not show that she was willing to give up everything for a new body, in fact, it showed that she was courageous enough to sacrifice something so important (her voice) to try new things and to be adventurous. In the song she sings to explain her desire to leave her role in the ocean, “Part of Your World,” she even sings the lyrics “Bright young women, sick of swimming, ready to stand.” She exemplifies curiosity and a thirst for knowledge and new experiences. This shows kids characteristics of empowerment, adventure, and determination; it does not show the idea that you do not need a voice as long as you have a nice body, as Anderson claims.

Similarly, Salyer from the New York Times claims that by creating the perfect image of beauty, Disney is aiding in the development of creating unhealthy body image among young females. Claiming that Disney only displays women who are thin and “perfect”. However, there are many females in Disney that take a wide variety of body types. Nani in Lilo and Stitch does not fit the mold many scrutinize Disney for having. Nani is curvy and demonstrates characteristics of responsibility and love. Similarly, Moana, the newest Disney princess, does not have the thin hourglass figure people accuse Disney of producing. Female characters in Disney films are not confined to one basic body type. Not only are these claims that Disney only has one form of female beauty false, but they are hypocritical. By stating that the thin figures of earlier Disney princesses are “wrong,” or “unnatural,” girls who are naturally thinner or share similar characteristics to these body types are being body shamed and told they are not good enough. Which is ironically the exact thing these sources are accusing Disney of doing to other body types. The fact that Disney, especially recently, have included a wide variety of shapes and sizes into their arsenal of characters has made the brand more inclusive and appealing to a broader audience.

Likewise, the idea that thinner, more “attractive” characters are protagonist and more heavily set female characters are antagonists (Davidson) is also a perception many have condemned Disney films for. This is not the case. Although there are some instances like Ursula in The Little Mermaid, where the villain is of a larger appearance, the majority of female Disney villains are, in fact, thin. Lady Tremaine in Cinderella, Mother Gothel in Tangled, and Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians all have thin physiques yet are portrayed as evil. The idea that evilness and weight are directly correlated in Disney films is false. In fact, in Tangled, the idea of being young and “beautiful” is portrayed as a negative feature. Gothel is the antagonist and the audience views her as being greedy and deceptive. This reflects on her goal of remaining thin and beautiful forever. The audience dislikes Gothel for her manipulation of Rapunzel and the way she used her for her hair, whereas they admire Rapunzel who is interested in exploring and finding new experiences. The movie shows her interest in reading, art, and astronomy, all intellectual outlets not focused on beauty. If anything, this associates the idea of being “beautiful” with negative feelings and the idea of intellect with positive feelings. It is not teaching children beauty is the only thing that is important like many have recently been claiming. 

One of the other most prevalent ideas that Disney is scrutinized for is the idea that these films convey a false sense of reality and do not teach lessons that are relevant to real life. Disney films build values that will remain relevant throughout life and the best way to instill these values is at an early age. Disney teaches strength and curiosity. Belle strayed from the role she was placed in as just being a wife to Gaston merely for his status, and showed that through intellect and understanding, good things will happen. Rapunzel left her state of confinement to broaden her experiences and perspective of the word. She exemplified curiosity and determination. Mulan had to overcome the cultural role of women in China. She was brave enough to take her father’s place in the army, even in light of the stigma placed against women in the environment she was in. None of these women let social norms or gender restrict them from achieving their goals. Disney is exemplifying timeless characteristics of determination, bravery, and curiosity that can be translated to everyday life. 

Similarly, many state that these movies allow children to confuse fantasy with reality and that they do not prepare them for the real world. While this claim may have some validity, the point of children’s films is not only to prepare youth for the harshness of life. These films act as an escape for children. If there is any time in life when dreams should be uninhibited and people should be able to believe the best in the world, it should be childhood. If we deprive children of this sense of wonderment and only show them how harsh the world can be, we strip them of the one time in life where they can be worry-free. Imagine living in a world where when we ask our 4 and 5-year-old children what they want to be when they grow up, instead of answering with “astronaut,” “ballerina,” and “cowboy,” they answer with “accountant,” “investment banker,” or “secretary.” Kids need to have the ability to dream and feel like they have the world at their fingertips while they still have the chance. That is what childhood is about. It is about dreaming and not having to worry about all the negative and real things going on in the world. Disney helps children to be able to dream. It allows them, for at least 90 minutes, to be able to step away from themselves and fall in love with the characters, enjoy the vibrant colors and scenes, sing along to the catchy rhythms, and dream. 

Disney is one of the most influential means of media simply because of the scope which it reaches and the fact that it is one of the primary sources reaching children. The ideas people are exposed to as children are often the most influential values they carry with them through life. The importance of the Disney company and the messages it conveys is the impact it has on society as a whole. These values influence our posterity and the future of our society.  Although Disney films may make some underlying statements in regard to gender roles, body image, and the idea of reality vs. fantasy, the majority of grievances against the company can be combated with other films from the Disney vault. Some films may give off certain values that people may view as negative or counterproductive to the morals we are trying to instill in our youth as a society, however, as times progress, so do the films Disney produces and the values they are conveying. Nothing remains stagnant in life and the Disney corporation and the media they produce are no exception. The ultimate goal of the films produced by Disney is to instill positive ideals of optimism and strength that will remain with children throughout their lives. 
