When we think of classic Disney Channel sitcoms, we tend to think of "Lizzie McGuire," "That's so Raven," and maybe even "Even Stevens," or "Life with Derek." People my age may also think of shows such as "Hannah Montana" and "Wizards of Waverly Place."
What all of these shows have in common is they are lighthearted. They're fun little sitcoms that aim to make people laugh and even have a few life lessons thrown in there. However, the announcement of Disney Channel's new show could take the network in a different direction.
The comedic drama "Andi Mack" is about a 13-year-old girl who has her whole world turned upside down when she discovers a big secret about her older sister Bex. Not only that, but a classmate of hers starts to question his sexuality, and Andi may even have a little romance in her own life. The show is aimed at kids aged six to 14 and their parents, but the description sounds like the CW's next teen drama.
What caught my attention about this show is that it centers around an Asian-American character. Call me biased, but Asian representation, or any minority representation, in American media is highly lacking. Even though there are excellent Asian actors, casting directors will still cast white actors. I don't blame them, I blame American society as a whole.
Asian American representation aside, this show tackles some heavy topics. With heavy topics comes heavy critics, and I see why many parents would not want their children to watch this show. Some may argue that Disney Channel is a family network and that they should focus on family-oriented shows and sitcoms. To that, I say this: Children are going to learn about things such as sexuality and teen pregnancy as they grow up no matter what.
Sure, you may want to keep your children away from adult topics for as long as possible in order to keep them innocent. However, it is getting harder and harder to do just that. With improved technology comes more information, and the internet is making it easy for children to learn these things at an earlier age.
To me, Disney's aim is to introduce children to these topics in a way that can be both enjoyable and educational. It is also not the first time Disney has taken stabs at showing more progressive elements in their shows. "Good Luck Charlie" showcased a lesbian couple, and "That's So Raven" tackled racism in a pivotal episode.
Children should not be sheltered from the outside world, they should be exploring it. The more they are exposed to it in a healthy way, the better they will respect and understand it.
That's how I will be raising my children when I am older, and I hope others will do the same as well.