If we've met, odds are you are aware of my obsession for old Disney movies. You might also know that for my 21st Birthday, I plan on watching Winnie the Pooh while drinking a glass of wine. The older I get, the more unethical flaws I see in these movies. After writing this article, I probably won't watch the Blu Ray version of Sleeping Beauty that my dad got me for my 20th Birthday... or the tape I've had since I was five.
1. Snow White (1937)
Snow White sits around in the woods, and waits for some handsome man (whom she only met ONCE) to come rescue her. She waits to be rescued from some woman who is furious that Snow White is prettier than her.
2. Dumbo (1941)
You see those crows on Dumbo's head? The leader of the squad is named Jim Crow, which is also a practice of segregating African Americans in the United States. Jim Crow was voiced by a white man, while the rest of the crows were voiced by members of an African American choir. (Source: Screen Rant) Basically, creating the "black stereotype" in these gang of crows. Also, the Jim Crow laws were laws against African Americans.
3. Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
Some of you may not remember this movie, in fact I first saw it a few years ago. BUT, you may remember the short "Mickey and the Beanstalk," which is featured in this movie. Just before they introduce the short, little Luana Pattern is at a party with all puppets hosted by her middle-aged male neighbor. Tell me that isn't sketchy AF, I dare you. Is this okay with Luana's parents? Who let's their child stay home alone with some strange man and his puppets? I'm sorry, that just makes me cringe.
4. Cinderella (1950)
The King expects all the maids in his palace to consider his son, Prince Charming. And of course, they all must look presentable in their best ball gowns, flawless hair-do's, and make-up. Well maybe not all the maids are interested in the prince, or any man. In my 9th grade English class, I remember reading a poem called Eve's Mouth by Alix Olson. (Shoutout to Ms. G for showing me this rad feminist perspective on fairy tales!) The poet portrays the princess from an LGBT perspective. Cinderella gets ready for the ball, and introduces herself to the prince as if it is a chore. She doesn't want the prince, she is more interested in the Fairy Godmother.
5. Peter Pan (1953)
Caption Hook is obsessed with finding Peter Pan. Hook decides to capture Tiger Lilly because he claims to know that her family knows where Peter Pan lives. Hook says "those red skins" know the island best. A derogatory term towards Native Americans used in a classic children's movie. It makes you wonder how the hell Walt Disney got away with it back then. Then of course the song "What Makes a Red Man Red." The song makes fun the Native American's skin tone, and stereotypes their emotions.
6. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Sleeping Beauty is my favorite movie of all time, but it sends a terrible message to men. If a woman is singing alone in the woods, leave her the hell alone! Prince Phillip approaches her in the woods claiming that he is no stranger, they have met in her dreams. Aurora tries to back away knowing he is a stranger, but Phillip grabs her as he seduces her. He may not have put something in her drink, but words can be just as powerful. Then he kisses her while she is asleep. That reinforces rape culture. If a woman is passed out, let her sleep!
7. 101 Dalmatians (1967)
This was the one thing that stuck with me when watching this movie again a few years back. Yes, I think that Cruella Deville is a human being who has risen from hell. BUT, near the end of the movie, she speeds around in her car to catch up with the puppies. To catch up, she cuts off a driver. The other driver yells "crazy female." That reinforces the female stereotype, that all women are bad drivers. Yes, there are women out there who can't drive, but guess what, there are also men who suck at it as well.
8. The Jungle Book (1967)
Mowgli fights Bhageera on the idea of going back to the man village throughout the whole movie. What finally draws Mowgli in on the idea is a little girl who came in to the forest to get some water. Bhageera and Baloo both point out that the little girl drops the water jug on purpose to get Mowgli's attention. No girl should have to present herself as weak to impress a boy. Show off those guns, gurl!!
9. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ariel gives up her entire life just to be with the man she loves. After the 16 year old gives her voice to Ursula, she is forced to use her body to make Prince Eric fall in love with her. I do not fall in love with someone just for their looks, unless it's a puppy. What if Eric was a jerk? If Ariel did not like him, she would either be stuck with him for the rest of her life, or become a pet of the sea-witch.
10. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
First off, Gaston tells Belle she should stop reading books because women will start getting ideas. Hell yeah they will, making the world a better place one idea at a time! Then he basically makes as though Belle is obligated to marry him. The Beast becomes what he is because he judged a woman by her appearance. He then imprisons Belle in order to make himself handsome again. He does not let Belle in certain areas of the castle, or contact with any other human beings.
11. Aladdin (1992)
Jasmine is forced to marry a prince by a certain date. She is not free to make her own choice, or even leave the damn castle. What if she wanted to marry a princess, a common individual like Aladdin, or remain a strong independent woman who don't need no significant other? When she ran away from the castle, she had to go in disguise as a commoner so she would not be recognized by the guards.
12. Mulan (1998)
A woman has to have certain qualities in order for the match maker to work her magic. That basically says that no man would take Mulan for who she is. Mulan simply wants to make the world a better place, but she is constantly ignored because she is a woman. The only way to bring honor to her family was to masquerade as a man in the army. To earn her voice, Mulan basically had to make a man out of herself.
Well, time to go sell all my tapes on ebay....
