What I Learned From Disney

Disney was a huge part of my childhood and greatly impacted it. Growing up, I began to notice the subconscious messages within Disney movies and I was interested to know if others perceived similar ideas from Disney. I carried out a survey to do so by asking people, what lessons they learned from watching Disney princesses and below are a list I compiled from their answers.

1. Don't loose your shoe

2. Don't let people take advantage of you

3. Disney give girls the false impression that men will save them in distress

4. Disney gives unrealistic ideologies of romance

5. Makes you believe animals can talk

6. To not worry

7. To be honest and nice

8. Makes boys feel that they have to be prince charming

9. Be true to who you are

10. Wish on everything

11. Princesses are only beautiful, worthy when dressed up and is with their prince.

12. They make the villain ugly women

13. There is a certain criteria of beauty of fit: slim, white

14. Tiana only came about due to tokenism (to appease an audience)

15. You have to change who you are to get what you want

16. Women should be domesticated

17. Don't take things from strangers

18. Guys can get whatever they want

19. Don't judge by appearances

20. "There was never a princess to represent me"

21. Women have to be strong, brave and gentle and soft at the same time

22. Being masculine means being physically strong

It is obvious that Disney shares both inspiring and damaging messages. It reiterates certain stereotypes and ideas that may be harmful to the minds of young people. These assumptions are generated from dominant hegemonic ideas that are recycled within society and constantly shown through the media. It is up to us as an audience to be conscious of these messages and actively choose to accept or reject them.

Reference: Foucault, M. and Gordon, C. (1980) Power/Knowledge. 1st edn. New York: Random House