The Happiest Place on Earth?

For most of us, Disney was an extremely large part of our childhood. As a young girl I was OBSESSED with all Disney princesses, Sleeping beauty, Ariel, Snow white, and Pocahontas. From ages 2-5 I genuinely don’t think I left the house without a costume dress and my plastic glitter heels. For years, Disney has been an enormous influence and source of happiness for all ages all over the world. However, the company has come under criticism in recent years for its lack of diversity, and representation of minorities in their films and TV shows.

One of the most significant criticisms of Disney’s lack of diversity is their portrayal of people of color in their films. Many of their older films, such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Cinderella,” and “Sleeping Beauty,” feature only white characters. Although some of their more recent movies, such as “Mulan” and “The Princess and the Frog,” feature non-white lead characters, they still inaccurately portray the cultures they represent. For example, “Mulan” includes many stereotypes about Chinese culture, including the idea that women are inferior to men. “The Princess and the Frog” was a great step in the right direction for Disney because the main character was a black princess! Except she literally spends pretty much the entire movie as a frog, rather than showcasing her culture.

Disney’s lack of diversity is not just prevalent in their movies, but is also reflected in their television shows. Many of their popular shows, such as “Hannah Montana,” “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” and “Good Luck Charlie,” feature primarily white casts. Even when the shows do have minority characters, they are often portrayed in stereotypical ways, such as the sassy black sidekick or the nerdy Asian character.

Disney’s lack of diversity is really quite upsetting because it’s such an influential part of my childhood as well as many others. It makes me sad thinking about how while I was so excited to see a new Disney princess come out, other children my age were just wondering why it was another white person. When kids see few characters who look like them, they may begin to feel excluded and marginalized. This lack of representation leads kids to having low self-esteem, and a sense of not belonging. It is also maintaining harmful stereotypes which is a big part of bullying for younger kids. 

Thankfully, Disney has made some efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in recent years. Disney’s decision to cast Halle Bailey, a young Black actress, as Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” is a crucial step towards inclusivity and diversity in media representation. By casting a Black actress as Ariel, Disney is providing representation for young Black girls who have not traditionally seen themselves reflected in Disney’s princesses. It sends a powerful message that anyone can be a princess, regardless of their race or ethnicity. Normalizing diversity in media is essential for creating a more inclusive society. I think the decision to cast Halle Bailey was such a great resolution to normalize diversity representations in the media. Disney is one of the biggest corporations in the world, ultimately setting an example for big companies like them. 

They have also created shows such as “Andi Mack,” which features a diverse cast and tackles issues such as coming out as gay, and “Raven’s Home,” which features a predominantly black cast. They have also included LGBTQ+ characters in some of their recent films, such as “Onward” and “Frozen 2.” 

After doing some research on steps Disney has made to become more inclusive, I have found out that they have partnered with advocacy groups such as GLAAD, the NAACP, and the Trevor Project to ensure that their content is inclusive and representative of diverse communities.

As one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, Disney has a responsibility to do better and create content that is welcoming and inclusive to people of all backgrounds. Disney has the power to shape cultural norms, so by promoting inclusion and diversity in its content, Disney can help to foster a more equitable society. Some criticize Disney as being too little, too late, and not enough to make up for the company’s long history of exclusion. Do you agree? The people in charge of Disney at that time are long gone, so I can see they are trying to reverse the damage that has been done but really all they can do is be more inclusive from here on out.