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 😊

OP, if you think that incoherent rant about how not being a racist is a bad thing is common sense then we have nothing left to discuss here and in the words of the Dragons from Dragons Den: I'm out.

I remember having to re write a fairy tale so that it wasn’t so sexist, there’s nothing mad or new about these concepts, why do people get their knickers in a twist so easily, then cry “ PC GORN MAD, THEM
MINORITIES ARE NEVER HAPPY ARE THEY”

@bookishtartlet

I'm a teacher. Your son is obviously at high school with this task?

She is not pushing her view, or picking on Disney. Disney is accessible, giving them a context. It spans many generations, showing how societal attitudes have changed toward what is acceptable. She is teaching them about how writing reflects the time in which it is set.

To clarify, she is doing her job. Your son is obviously aware that you cannot enslave step children, and that animals don't talk, right?

Yes he is aware! Thank you for that! And he's also aware that they are just CARTOONS .. that is fairytale make belief and he doesn't get real life and cartoons mixed up or confused! Nor will he ever be unkind or racist or sexist because he knows right from wrong. He isn't weak minded enough to let an 80 year old film brain wash him

OP, do write back and tell that teacher that it’s your sons right to be racist and sexist.

Surely there are hundreds of other (and better) examples?

Few with as much contact with children.

I still watch them with DD but will say things like, "how come the girl is doing... " Teach them critical thinking, not avoidance. DD was the little girl running around Disneyland in a Star Wars costume (her choice) rather than as a princess.

I know I am not the only one who thinks like this - not by a long shot!

Well, yes, quite. It's perhaps this kind of eye-rolling sneering that the teacher is trying to tackle.

You've accidentally supported the whole point of a good assignment.

Tbh I think you could do this with your DS. It’s a great way of having a conversation about how racism and sexism can subtly exist. You can discuss with him that Disney films were made at a time when this was more acceptable but that time’s change. It’ll be a PSHE topic but helps his English too.

You can also discuss other films where attitudes are less than ideal.

And he's also aware that they are just CARTOONS .. that is fairytale make belief and he doesn't get real life and cartoons mixed up or confused! Nor will he ever be unkind or racist or sexist because he knows right from wrong. He isn't weak minded enough to let an 80 year old film brain wash him

If that's the case, then how on earth can this homework 'ruin' the films for him, then?

I think it's good for children of that age to learn how views have changed over the years and that people in the past should be judged as a part of their society at the time, not by our modern standards. For example we might think it wrong to represent black people as crows in Dumbo but the crows were kind to him and helped him. At that time when we consider the way black people were treated in America in the 1940s, it is a positive message to send to young children.

Conclusion

MN's 'HATE' Disney .. say and state factually that it's racist but they still let their little darlings WATCH Disney!

Just couldn't make it up 😫😂

Name change fail?

YANBU
Whatever bloody next.

Ooops sorry - wrong thread

Sorry OP, you appear to be saying that we should just accept everything and not ever use our minds to question anything as it just becomes ridiculous.. .I beg to differ there. I think we are fortunate that we have minds that have the capacity to discern and think for ourselves without just mindlessly taking it all in. Otherwise we are just passive robots, aren't we? Who never bother to question if the status quo is fair because it's too much hassle?

MrsTerryPratchet beat me to it. This is an assignment about critical thinking.

(Btw MrsTP, I'm a huge fan of your work)

qz.com/603052/new-research-has-uncovered-a-disturbing-trend-about-female-characters-in-disney-movies/

They are sexist and getting worse.

You, OP don't read and don't think critically. Maybe your teachers should have taught you how to do both.

@Adogwithabone

The villains are British in most films - apparently it is because you have to be a really good actor to play a villain and the Brits are best at it.

(eg: Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves)

Just couldn't make it up

And yet... you did.

X-posted @WineGummyBear

because witches don't curtesy

DD was the little girl running around Disneyland in a Star Wars costume (her choice) rather than as a princess.

To be fair General Leia was a princess but I take your point!

*Conclusion

MN's 'HATE' Disney .. say and state factually that it's racist but they still let their little darlings WATCH Disney!

Just couldn't make it up 😫😂*

Do you never watch anything politically provocative? Anything slightly controversial? You are very black and white OP. You don’t have to stay in the dark, it’s alright to think about things and not just focus on the superficial.

I think Disney is the perfect one to go for, it's massive and popular, so it's good to get people to open their eyes, to what they have unconsciously taken on board, and how easy it is to brush under the carpet, because you know it's a big industry, So it's A Okay to teach kids it's all fine, just enjoy the pretty pictures and songs.

And no nearly all Disney was never seen by the DC and fucking Disney world is the last place on earth I'd ever want to go.

@MrsTerryPratchett

They are sexist and getting worse.

You, OP don't read and don't think critically. Maybe your teachers should have taught you how to do both.

Shame you had to give yourself that username though isn't it ?

I’m not sure why you’re so concerned about your child being taught how to critically evaluate source material, or the idea that a person can be aware of sexist, racist, homophobic or other depictions in a book or film and still watch it. If we were to avoid all works with sexism there wouldn’t be much left....

Let me give you an equivalent that may not be quite so triggering for you.

At the moment, I’m reading the Famous Five with my eight-year-old. I’m not sure there is anyone alive who would try to argue that they are not rife with sexist, classist and racist attitudes.

They are still cracking stories. My son and I discuss the things we come across - the attitudes to girls, the depictions of travellers, the way fucking Julian speaks to anyone he considers socially beneath them - that are clearly products of their time and the writer’s prejudices.

It’s great in two ways - he gets to know that the quite recent past was very different in terms of attitudes and that equality and fairness aren’t automatic, and he learns to think about who has written a text and what their background might be which is a massive skill.

Ok. Let's go from a different angle. My DC have not seen these 70-80 year old movies.

They've only seen films made in the past twenty years. The films were 'escapism' were never anything 'political' and why would they be? What 8 year watches Toy Story and looks out for anything other than laughing and having a fun time watching the film