top of page
Disney Attempts to Rectify Their Past Mistakes
What once may have been accepted in previous decades no longer aligns with the expectations of today's audience. Recognizing the negative stereotypes, harmful messaging to young girls, and unrealistic body ideals it once perpetuated, Disney is actively working to rectify these issues. As Disney endeavors to navigate this shift in values, it seeks to foster a new environment of authenticity, empowerment, and inclusivity.
One correction Disney has made is that in certain movies that perpetuate harmful stereotypes of a certain culture or ethnicity, they issue a warning in advance. This warning is meant to make the audience aware of what they are about to see and that it is a harmful depiction of a certain group of people.
Another example of a correction Disney made to rectify their harmful past was the casting of the live action version of The Little Mermaid. Ariel is played by Halle Bailey, a Black woman, despite the original animated movie which portrays Ariel as white. This was a powerful move for Disney to make since they knew that even though they were doing the right thing by casting a woman that many Black little girls would be able to look up to and relate to, they would also receive backlash from members of a community that is interested in keeping things the way they were.
A physical correction Disney is in the process of making is rebranding their famous Splash Mountain ride in the theme parks. This ride was previously based on The Song of the South, a film released in 1946 which has since been permanently banned from Disney Plus due to its racist depictions. The ride itself will remain the same, but the theme will instead revolve around The Princess and The Frog, which tells the story of Tiana, Disney's first Black princess.
Disney has also made new movies about empowered women that are not necessarily defined as Disney princesses, but are associated with being princesses by the general audience. Films such as Moana and Raya and The Last Dragon portray empowered women on their own journeys to help their people. They are responsible, determined, and work hard to achieve their goals. These are positive role models for young girls to look up to. In addition, Raya's experience sheds light on aspects of Southeast Asian culture, while Moana's story depicts Polynesian culture. Audiences enjoy a captivating story while also learning about different cultures and traditions.
bottom of page