My 11 year child has been asked to re write a Disney story of his choice but without the sexist/racist aspects. AIBU to write back..

[SecretsInSpitalfield]

That I will not have the teacher pushing her views on my child?

As far as he (and his younger DB) Disney has always been a POSITIVE thing! Fun films , cinema days and even a dream once in a lifetime trip to World Disney World.

I wouldn't have minded if they said 'do you think any Disney films are racist or sexist? If so, please elaborate why. But this has been set as if it's FACTUAL that they are and my child is just 11.

Please give me your honest opinions

Thank you 😊

[Dontlickthat]

YABU...they are racist and sexist.

[SecretsInSpitalfield]

• As far as my DS is concerned

[AloeVeraLynn]

But it is factual.

[LuluBellaBlue]

Which films or Disney things are?
Just curious as I wasn’t aware but equally don’t really watch tv!

[Mickhasnotorso]

You need to open your eyes

[AllStarBySmashMouth]

Yeah, unfortunately they are right. Walt Disney himself was known for his less than savoury views.

If you're really bothered, pick an obviously racist one like Song of the South.

[SecretsInSpitalfield]

Mick- oh I do! I just don't think its appropriate to tell young kids this! Pushing your views on children doesn't sit well....

[MummytoCSJH]

It's not just a view if it's true.

[PutTheBassInYourWalk]

He's 11. He is not that young.

How do you know they didn't discuss it in class?

Some Disney films are sexist and/or racist.

YABU.

[InTropicalTrumpsLand]

YABU. Your child could write about how Snow White was kissed by a stranger while in a coma, etc. Surely your child can tell it's not okay at 11?

[TooManyPaws]

An eleven year old is hardly too young to know about racism and sexism.

[TwoBoxers]

It's the Disney films that are pushing the sexist and racist view not your child's teacher, unless you are objecting to your child finding out that racist and sexist views exist.

[Di11y]

oh sure, must protect the poor boy's sensibilities and ensure he perpetuates misogynistic and racist views and never questions the status quo. think of the children!

[Thesearmsofmine]

YABU, I actually think it’s a really good idea!

[SecretsInSpitalfield]

Thank you everyone for your honest replies!

For those who say that it's a fact and Disney films ARE racist .. do you (or have you) allow/ed your DC to watch any Disney films?

[AllStarBySmashMouth]

I saw someone put on Twitter that Disney+ are actually including a comment in the description of their racist films, which is interesting. See example:

[YourOpinionIsNoted]

Yeah I'd not like this so much. Is he in year 6 or year 7?

I'm not saying that Disney films aren't racist or sexist, but I don't like the pushing of the position from the teacher. As a writing exercise I (ex English teacher) would have framed it as a subverted fairytale - how can you rewrite it so it messes with the readers' expectations. You'd end up with the same results (probably) but without the explicit political framing.

[wlv12]

But it’s not pushing views is it?
It’s teaching them to critically analyse a piece of work.

[Booboostwo]

You think teachers teaching kids NOT to be racist or sexist is pushing their views on them? What is a balanced view? Should the teacher teach a bit about equality and then a bit from Mein Kampf to even things up?

[churchandstate]

It’s not pushing the teacher’s views. It’s teaching. There are aspects of many Disney films that can (quite reasonably) be critiqued from a feminist/post-colonialist standpoint and the teacher is right to encourage this.

[Spudlet]

Watch the deleted scene from Fantasia, with the centaurs and the little black centaur girl who was half donkey, as opposed to the beautiful white girls, and tell me that’s not as racist as fuck.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Apart from Black Panther they are racist and sexist and no I don’t allow my DC to watch them. But I’m not white so I can’t ignore any of it.

[Softskin88]

You can find allegations of racism, sexism, misogyny or other forms of discrimination virtually anywhere and in any context if you dig deep enough.

I would have thought this was more one for teenagers to deconstruct though....?

[MamaToTheBabyBears]

YABU.
Many are racist and sexist. Also he's 11, he is certainly old enough to know racism and sexism exist and you need to talk to him and possibly help him with his essay, so they're not normalised concepts for him.

[churchandstate]

For those who say that it's a fact and Disney films ARE racist .. do you (or have you) allow/ed your DC to watch any Disney films?

I wouldn’t necessarily argue it to be a “fact”, but it’s not unreasonable to interpret them in this way. Likewise, I like and watch Gone With the Wind (horribly racist) and Friends (the sexism/homophobia is hideous). I am just glad that I can watch them as constructs/products of their times, with awareness of what is wrong with them.