The Disney corporation has a long history of producing films and television shows that tremendously impact the development and socialization of children and young adults. While there are many positive aspects to the entertainment offered by Disney, there are also many potential negative effects. Some experts have argued that Disney’s focus on fantasy and unrealistically positive portrayals of relationships can lead children to develop unrealistic expectations about the world around them (Griffin et al., 2018). The corporation’s content showcases women’s reliance on men and whites to be superior to other races. Similarly, through storytelling, Disney films and movies promote admirable values and embrace creativity culture among children and young adults. Disney corporation films have a big influence on the development and socialization of children and young adults through storytelling, racial and gender consciousness, role modeling, and cultural significance.
The Disney corporation has a complex and extensive impact on the development and socialization of children and young adults. One significant way in which the Disney corporation affects children is through its reinforcement of traditional gender roles and the presentation of gender stereotypes. For example, some Disney movies depict women as weak, submissive, and largely dependent on men while portraying men as strong, capable, and independent (Alsaraireh et al., 2020). Belle from the Disney cartoon called Beauty and the Beast several times showed herself to be a weak woman who needs the physical help of a man. This situation is most vividly reflected in the case of a pack of wolves in the forest from which a Beast saved the girl. Still, despite this, the cartoon shows a brave-hearted and brave girl who saved her father from imprisonment in a castle. As a result, young girls who watch this movie may get the wrong idea about what it means to be a woman. Additionally, this could lead to them forming harmful beliefs about gender roles and power dynamics between men and women.
The Walt Disney Company has become a global phenomenon since its establishment in 1923. It is one of the largest entertainment companies in the world, and its media franchises have permeated popular culture. Scholars have analyzed the effects of Disney on various aspects of child and adolescent development, including gender consciousness (Griffin et al., 2018). It is obvious that children and adolescents are heavily influenced by the media they consume. These effects are due to the fact that they are still developing their sense of self-identity, making them more vulnerable to media messages.
Similarly, it is doubtless that the racism problem in America is far from solved. Some people believe that Disney Corporation may be helping to perpetuate racial differences in the society, especially when it comes to the way children and young adults are socialized. It is being argued that Disney films often feature white protagonists in distress, while people of color are relegated to supporting roles (Alsaraireh et al., 2020). This could send the message to children that white characters are more important and worthy of love and admiration than others. The 1946 Disney film Song of the South is notorious for its highly racist portrayal of African Americans (Sandlin & Snaza, 2018). The film paints a negative and false stereotype of African Americans, and children can wrongly learn from it.
Moreover, it is known that the Disney company profoundly impacts the development and socialization of children and young adults concerning racial consciousness. For many, Disney represents the epitome of American culture, values, and traditions. As such, it is not surprising that the corporation has been accused of reinforcing racial stereotypes and promoting a limited view of race relations. Critics argue that Disney films and television shows often portray people of color in negative or demeaning ways (Griffin et al., 2017). They similarly point to the lack of diversity among Disney’s leading characters, suggesting that the company perpetuates a monolithic view of what it means to be American.
Likewise, Disney provides positive role models who promote values such as kindness, perseverance, and loyalty. However, it is important to consider the potential disadvantage of having such a large and powerful corporation in charge of creating widespread cultural narratives. On the one hand, some Disney films, such as The Lion King, provide children with strong moral role models who teach valuable lessons about kindness, perseverance, and loyalty (Lammon, 2019). Conversely, some critics argue that Disney movies often portray unrealistic expectations about love and relationships, which can lead to feelings of disappointment in young viewers. Disney characters are often role models to children, and the company has a great deal of power to shape how young people view themselves and the world around them.
The Disney corporation profoundly affects the development and socialization of children and young adults in terms of “moral” storytelling. Many would say that Disney is one of the most influential institutions shaping American morality (Neira-Piñeiro et al., 2021). Disney’s stories often portray traditional values such as obedience, hard work, and the embrace of cultural norms. These stories often have a clear good-versus-evil message, with unambiguous heroes and villains. This type of storytelling can be helpful in teaching children right from wrong at an early age. However, it is similarly worth noting that some people argue that Disney’s narratives are too simplistic and do not allow for enough moral ambiguity or growth (Neira-Piñeiro et al., 2021). There are both negative and positive teaching from the shows aired through Disney; it is upon parents to guide or control their children or young adults from misleading displays.
The Disney company is the undisputed leader in producing family cartoons, but they could not even avoid competition. The Dreamworks company also creates cartoons that viewers can happily prefer to some Disney cartoons. The company’s legacy of producing high-quality animated films has inspired generations of young people to appreciate this art form (Neira-Piñeiro et al., 2021). Still, little outdated stamps and Disney cartoon characters are contrasted with bright and modern Dreamworks heroes, who are preferred by children. In addition, Dreamworks shoot many cartoons on entirely different topics, with unique humor and attractive characters that are so interesting for young children and adults. Disney cartoons focus more on family values, but Dreamworks cartoons show personal effectiveness, a positive attitude to life, and the power of friendship and love. The most famous comics from the latest Dreamworks release are How to Train a Dragon, Trolls, The Croods Family, and others. Each studio has its peculiarities in creating cartoons, and naturally, it is necessary to acquaint with the works of both Disney and Dreamworks to form a complete opinion about them.
In conclusion, Disney Corporation has great effects on the development and socialization of children and young adults. In recent decades, Disney has been criticized for the way it portrays gender and racial relations in its films. Some argue that the company perpetuates harmful stereotypes, while others claim that Disney simply reflects the values of society as a whole. Likewise, the company has long been a source of role models for families across the globe, with its characters representing moral values that have stood the test of time. In today’s society, where so much is uncertain, Disney remains a bastion of family-friendly entertainment that inspires creativity, hope, and kindness in its viewers.
References
Alsaraireh, M. Y., Singh, M. K. S., & Hajimia, H. (2020). Critical discourse analysis of gender representation of male and female characters in the animation movie, Frozen. Linguistica Antverpiensia, 104-121.
Griffin, M., Harding, N., & Learmonth, M. (2017). Whistle while you work? Disney animation, organizational readiness and gendered subjugation. Organization Studies, 38(7), 869-894.
Griffin, M., Learmonth, M., & Piper, N. (2018). Organizational readiness: Culturally mediated learning through Disney animation. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 17(1), 4-23.
Lammon, M. A. (2019). Dead Serious: Death Presentations in Children’s Animated Media. University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Neira-Piñeiro, M.D., Pérez, M.E., & Villalustre, L. (2021). Female leadership represented in animation for children and the sociocognitive learning of 21st-century girls. International Journal of Communication 15, 605-617.
Sandlin, J., & Snaza, N. (2018). ‘It’s called a hustle, sweetheart’: Black lives matter, the police state, and the politics of colonizing anger in Zootopia. Journal of Popular Culture, 51(5), 1190-213.