Year 8 English

In Year 8 English, students have been exploring how stereotypes are used to communicate and propagate both positive and negative attributes to individuals or groups. Students spent time viewing and analysing several well-known cartoons including Bluey and Peppa Pig. In formulating their own opinions and thoughts on the subject, students wrote a Letter to the Editor discussing the role stereotypes play within society and commented on their effect.

Ms Bree Marsh
Head of Learning Area – English

Col Allen
The West Australian Newspaper
GPO Box 143
Perth WA 6059

Wednesday 31 March 2021

Dear Col Allen,

My name is Ema Garic and I would like to bring an issue to your attention. Like most people we love our attractions, but we found few problems with some of them. I have come to the conclusion that the number of negative gender and racial stereotypes in Disney shows/movies don’t positively influence the young children. We as a society have been noticing more and more gender and racial stereotypes through out Disney movies. We need to resolve this issue soon, because it has already started to change the view of the world in little children’s eyes. I think that these stereotypes in Disney movies are teaching kids from outdated gender roles to offensive representations of other cultures. Disney movies are telling small children that ‘girls wear pink whilst boys wear blue’. I am truly disgusted by how these films have executed negative gender and racial stereotypes.

In the Disney movie, ‘Dumbo’, there are quite a few appalling negative racial stereotypes that teach children wrong. In the film, there was a distasteful moment when the crows who teach Dumbo to fly are obviously Negro caricatures. Some have read the crows’ characterisation as a negative racial stereotype. It seems strange to me that it is somehow alright to caricature ‘whites’ but not ‘blacks’? For these characters inhabit the pantheon of standard ‘black’ stereotypes.

The Disney film, ‘The Little Mermaid’, builds up negative and ridiculous stereotypes. Ariel’s size and appearance illustrates that women need to look a certain way to be considered a women. The character Ariel is modelled slightly after a doll. People are not objects to be built and made. People should be taught how to be comfortable with their own body. The marriage at the end of the film reinforces the idea that women absolutely need to get married to a man in order to complete life. Do we really want children to think that is what life is about?

We need to resolve this NOW! These negative stereotypes just eat their way into children’s mindsets, and try to take over how they see the world. Disney needs to teach children no matter how their body is like, they are still perfect and unique in their own ways. They should really consider educating all employees about how stereotypes affect a child’s understanding negatively. By trying to show a great deal of variety in their films, they can steer towards a different theme and influence the audience in a positive way. Listening to us exposing these negative stereotypes Disney portray, can give you the information you need to undertake the journey of change.

To modern eyes, the classic Disney films can seem painfully retrograde. We should always think twice before letting kids watch some Disney movies. Disney is clearly proud of its efforts to modernise the movie genre, but they have to start considering gender and racial stereotypes. They have a lot of hard work to do if they want to achieve this. So, are these movies really so good after all? When you start to look at this stuff, you have to question that a little bit.

My time is up and I thank you for yours,
Ema Garic