Diversity in Disney

With a world full of racial and cultural diversity, I feel that this topic needs to be more explored than it is nowadays.

As we all know Disney has been around for centuries and its past is littered with films that employed racist streotypes. Beloved classics like Peter Pan and Dumbo, for example, contain racist caricatures of Native Americans and African-Americans, while older films like the notorious 1946 Song of the South will always be a severe embarrassment and the proof of a grim past Disney is trying to leave far behind.

Despite the history of criticism on the lack of diversity in Disney movies, the animation studio has made large strides in the past twenty years.

The company has definitely come a long way from the stereotypical fairy tale princess with “golden hair” and “fair skin.” Although not every single race and culture has had their story told yet, Disney is on the right track. Various cultures have begun appearing in its movies giving children a character that they can relate to.

If Disney films were to have had the type of diversity it is now starting to show, rather than decades ago, it is possible that society would have a better attitude towards different cultures. Even if people aren't fully aware of it, Disney has affected many people in their day-to-day lives.

The lack of cultural representation in its movies directly reflected on society perpetuating the idea that some cultures are superior to others. In order for these stereotypes to be eliminated this company needs to make its characters even more culturally diverse and inclusive. Only in that way Disney will help build cross-cultural empathy and cultural empowerment and ensure that people know all races and cultures are equal.

Sources: https://sweetanimatedfilms.wordpress.com/2017/11/12/a-history-of-disneys-cultural-representation/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKWGQyz-oLw