Welcome to Disney’s World: a Deeper Dive

Disneyland, Disney World, and Euro Disney are often perceived as enchanting destinations, places that evoke cherished memories and symbolize quintessential American culture. These attractions, along with Disney's films and merchandise, have reached every corner of the globe, showcasing what many believe to be the marvels of American society. Disney's movies consistently top box office charts, its toys fly off the shelves, and a glance at any group of preschoolers will reveal a significant number of them sporting clothing adorned with Disney characters.

Yet, beneath this wholesome image lies a complex narrative that deserves deeper scrutiny.

Disney's Corporate Practices

Disney's influence on children is undeniable, but it's crucial to question what we truly know about this corporate giant. Disney is a vast multinational corporation primarily motivated by financial success. This drive for profitability has led the company to exploit resources and labor in various nations, all while maintaining an image of respectability within American society. Beyond cultural exploitation, Disney also produces films that supposedly idealize American values but often contain elements of racism, sexism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism, thereby exploiting not just other cultures, but our own as well.

The issue of sweatshops is not new in the realm of international business. As North Americans, we are all too aware of the exploitation occurring in numerous countries. It becomes even more troubling when a corporation that has built its reputation on values and a commitment to children is found to be paying twelve-year-old girls in developing countries a mere seven cents an hour to manufacture pajamas for children in North America. The hypocrisy of this situation is striking. A company that purports to teach our children values engages in business practices that are both immoral and unethical. Corporate Watch has revealed on their website that in Thailand, Disney contractor The Eden Group dismissed 1,145 of their workers to exploit lower-cost subcontractors, ten of which were discovered to employ child labor. Furthermore, Disney has been shown to support the Burmese military dictatorship by protecting a factory, 45% owned by the state, that produces its clothing. Such business activities are not uncommon. However, while the public has become skeptical of most multinationals, Disney, the American sweetheart, largely escapes such scrutiny.

The Messages in Disney Films

Disney's business practices are certainly a major concern, but the messages embedded within its films possibly have even more significant consequences for our society. What is Disney really telling our children? Disney's films consistently reinforce the oppressive status quo by often positioning the hero or heroine within the upper echelons of society and predominantly casting them with Anglo-Saxon American voices. Consequently, the villains are frequently depicted as belonging to different ethnicities. Recently, the Arab Anti-Defamation League filed a suit against Disney, citing the negative, villainous, or absurd portrayal of Arabs in its films. What associations will children form when they are repeatedly exposed to narratives that pit white, upper-class Americans against uneducated, power-hungry, impoverished minorities?

Additionally, Disney films have a tendency to uphold patriarchal ideologies. In nearly every film, the female protagonist must ultimately be rescued or reunited with her "prince charming." The women are invariably beautiful and desired by men. After experiencing a feminist revolution and a continuous struggle for gender equality, should Americans still allow their children to be influenced by these outdated sexist and patriarchal representations?

The Lion King: A Case Study

To further elucidate the implicit messages within Disney's films, one can examine the blockbuster hit, "The Lion King." This movie exemplifies the values supported by Disney. The establishment of the status quo is evident in the opening scene with the song "The Circle of Life," where the animals accept the hierarchy of their society and acknowledge the lions as their rulers. These lions appear to symbolize the upper class of American society, as the voices provided to these characters are overwhelmingly white American. The only exception is King Mufasa, voiced by James Earl Jones, who transcends racial boundaries due to his association with CNN and other non-racial voice-overs. The servants to the lions have various accents, such as the monkey, played by British actor Rowan Atkinson. If the rulers are clearly portrayed as white, upper-class Americans, then the lower-class villains must be something different. The hyenas, representing the lower class, are voiced by actors of obvious ethnic minorities. The voices are distinctly African-American and Hispanic-American. The conclusion one might draw from such associations is the reinforcement of the racial hierarchy within American society.

Not only is the racial hierarchy reinforced, but also the sexual hierarchy. The patriarchal messages within the film are overwhelming. Early in the film, the young lions play together, and the female lioness Nala always manages to "pin" young Simba, the male lion, when they wrestle. However, when they grow up, Simba overpowers Nala, reclaiming his superiority. Additionally, when the kingdom is without a male lion leader, the female lions are unable to fend off the evil Scar and his hyenas, allowing the kingdom to fall into disarray. Once Simba returns to the kingdom, he reclaims his leadership role, and the kingdom is restored to its former glory. These are just a few of the messages within the film, but they suffice to illustrate the type of values Disney is imparting to our children.

Conclusion

Critics often argue that interpretations like those expressed above are unnecessarily complex. The statement, "A child couldn't possibly understand that," is frequently voiced. However, underestimating children may be a mistake. If a child understands the language, they may pick up on some, if not all, of the film's implications. Disney is an integral part of American culture, and eliminating its influence is practically impossible. What is possible, however, is education and consumer awareness. If consumers are informed about the business practices of this multinational corporate giant, they may be more inclined to take action, such as writing to the CEO or reducing their support for the company. Furthermore, once educated, parents and consumers can become more active viewers of the films and engage in discussions about these issues with their children. Disney is indeed teaching our children morals and values, but whose morals are they? We do not have to live in Disney's world, and we should strive to ensure that our children can discover their own magical place, one free of hypocrisy, racism, and false morals. By doing so, we help them create a future that is truly magical and inclusive.

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