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 😊

Lord of the Flies?

They all co-operate together, no one dies and they get rescued quickly. Plus there's some gay relationships that develop and are encouraged by the other boys.

The BBC is racist and sexist" by digging through the archives and pulling out some gems. Same for hmmm, Shakespeare? Dickens? Pretty much anyone that was alive before like 1995 It's not critical thinking - since there are PLENTY of Disney films that are not racist or sexist

I very much doubt the teacher was asking the kids to critique the Disney corporation, but to pick an individual film. And yes, the teacher could well have used an old BBC sitcom, or an Enid Blyton book. But they wouldn’t be familiar to the class so it would be pointless.

YABU
I think it's an amazing task for the children to really see Disney movies in their true light. I wish we did something like that at school.
My generation seem to be affected by the movies. I see so many of my school friends grow up looking for their prince charming and then just going for the first man they meet, many ending up in abusive relationships.
I have also seen many young girls groomed. Also in my generation.
I've read in the past that their are studies proving that one side of the brain picks up the things a child doesn't necessarily pick up right away as their minds are innocent and I've seen this fold out in real life. I won't say Disney is to blame for if but we grew up on Disney.
I am concerned about the no consent in the movies and my children don't watch Disney at all. They enjoy playing with their toys instead and doing role-play with hopefully positive messages.
I wish my post was a joke but it isn't. Whatever the girls in my generation grew up on, doesn't seem to be on good stuff as they continue to sit and be abuses because they think they can't do better or that their prince charming will change.

The racist parts of the movies perhaps was not picked up by us as we are of ethnic minorities. Just to add. Hence we are very aware of racism from life experience.

@chomalungma that's the best. Still has massive sexual diamorphism which is an issue in all Disney films (except Snow White!). The men are giants, you could put your hand around the waists of the women. Still issues with relative attractiveness and role. But yes, much better than average and passes the Bechdel test.

This teacher sounds like an insufferable twat to be honest.

I haven't said anything personal to anyone

Many things said in this thread, feel very personal to me as the mother of a child who recognised overt racism to him when he was 4.

He was told “you can’t be the prince. Princes don’t come from Africa” . By two girls from nice friendly white middle class families.

Using Disney stories to encourage children aged 11 what is racist and sexist is an excellent exercise. Brilliant way to encourage debate and discussion. As I parent I’d be delighted if our school would do more on this kind of topic.

It’s not a view, it is fact.

Good bit of homework that.

Surprised Peter Pan hasn't had a mention yet. The song 'What Makes the Red Man Red?' has aged about as well as it's title implies.

Disney is simply retelling fairy tales from around the world and it is the stories themselves that have racist/sexist/classist elements to them. The teacher isn’t targeting Disney but the fact that every culture’s tales will have these elements in them because racism/sexism/classism was part of society then and still is part of society now.
Rewriting any story portrayed by Disney is a good assignment.

He was told “you can’t be the prince. Princes don’t come from Africa” . By two girls from nice friendly white middle class families

One thing that really annoys me is when people dismiss the 'hidden curriculum' - the messages that children pick up from stories, conversations, everyday interactions, the media etc.

They say that it's not important. They dismiss teachers and schools who try to encourage books which try to get away from the stereotypes in them. Yet children do pick up messages from stories and films and bring them into their view of life and what can and can't happen - with real effects.

Just like in your story.

By coincidence chomalungma DS got "The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig" Eugene Trivizas & Helen Oxenbury in his bedtime story mix this evening. Brilliant, hilarious and a happy ending. Highly recommended.

OMG, I must have been living under a rock. I've not watched any Disney films in their entirety for probably decades but I have no recollection of any racism/homophobia etc. I'm going to have to watch a few now through adult eyes and see if I notice anything!

That sounds really fun Neome - where can I get ahold of that? I do worry about the problems of the media that my 4yo is exposed to at a time when he's not yet well equipped enough to critique it.

Y'know what would actually make this thread really worthwhile is some recs for children's media that is more inclusive and stereotype-busting.

❤️ goes out to you BlouseAndSkirt

I wonder if there will ever be an LGBT character in a Disney film, where they agree to live with someone else, but not together forever, and certainly not getting married?

Or maybe an LGBT character who doesn't want to have a relationship at all.

Or is that pushing it too far?

Or a friendly wolf? I feel for them. Always stereotyped.

Foxes too. Strange when most Disney films don't occur in urban places where foxes are very different to the countryside ones.

Oh shit forgot Fox and the Hound

What about light colour vs dark colour. No coincidence that Simba is lighter coloured than Scar and blackbirds are often baddies

Thank you Neome
X

Inelegant but link works (what did I do wrong?)

I have heard of this supplier for diversity in children's book's

www.letterboxlibrary.com/

Ermahgerd, the teacher has broken the magic

I think it sounds like a reasonable thing for kids to have a think about.

YABVU. I cannot imagine being the kind of parent who wouldn't want their child to grow up with the ability to engage with ideas they aren't familiar with or the ability to critically assess what they see around them through different lenses.

Why do we have to district childhood innocences before we need to?