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Shauna O’Brien

Professor Keyes

English 101

December 12, 2011

“The Dream that you wish will come true”:

Disney’s Positive Effect on Children

“The same movie from yesterday! Ariel is my favorite!” the five years old me pleaded.

As my mother presses rewind for the third time that week, she replies “Are you sure? Maybe

you can watch one of the newer movies Aunt Laura bought for you”. “No” I respond simply,

because my mind was already lost in a day dream of finding my Prince Charming. As the

familiar soundtrack started playing, so did the comforting magical feelings. An immense part of

my childhood memories revolve around Disney whether it was singing the songs in long car

rides, flying to Disney World or pretending to be the Little Mermaid while swimming in the

pool. As a child I innocently declared my favorite movie The Little Mermaid and to this day it

has not changed. Many parents debate that Disney movies are highly inappropriate because of its

use of gender roles, stereotypes and racial undertones. On the other hand countless parents

encourage children to enjoy and embrace the lessons taught by the enthusiastic animations.

Although Disney characters display poor characteristics whether their dependent, needy or

intimidating overall they are beneficial to a child’s development.

Numerous people debate that Disney movies have a more negative effect on children.

They argue that it portrays false, harmful gender roles, and racial undertones. For example, many

discuss how the little mermaid influences little girls.

Should it be a surprise that a child that has enjoyed The Little Mermaid might think that it was okay to lie to her father? Should it be a surprise if she asked her friends to cover for

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her, supporting lies that are told to do things that are absolutely against parental edicts? Should it be a surprise that a little girl might think she could be in love with a boy she had never talked to and had seen only once or twice and only at a distance? Should it be a surprise that lies are okay and risking the lives is okay? (Movie Messages)

The little mermaid has been seen to encourage rebelling and a false sense of body image. It also

teaches little girls that in order to get your prince, they have to be silent. Eric falls in love with

Ariel with her body language not her mind. Snow White is a poor role model because she

portrays gender roles. She lives with seven men and is the only one doing house work. She cooks

and cleans happily while the seven dwarfs go to work. Meanwhile, Cinderella is argued to be a

poor role model because she falls in love with a prince after only one night of knowing him.

Although there are many examples of the negative impressions Disney portrays, the

positive messages are overwhelmingly evident. RPI student Chase Crawford states that Disney

movies are “Positive times a million. It teaches you values, like loyalty and friendship. It also

teaches children that if they do the right thing they will be rewarded and everything will be

happy and good “. Disney encourages pursing your dreams and emphasizes a happily ever after.

In a poll taken by college students, there was a split opinion on whether these movies were a

beneficial influence or not. Although there was not a clear outcome to the survey, there was one

obvious relation. Every college student in the poll remembered watching and enjoying at least

one Disney movie as a child. Also, almost all the participants were able to identify which movie

a classic quotes were from. Quotes such as “A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast

asleep… Have faith in your dreams, and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through. No

matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come

true” (Facebook Survey).  Disney movies were originally created from children, but have

successfully managed to inspire the hearts of everyone, children and elders alike. Kyle from

Dean College believes Disney movies are “positive when the children are young but when you

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get older you realize certain innuendos that the older movies have so it might be construed as

negative but, I’d consider it to be more positive than negative because kids need hope and if they

believe in something then that is so much better than the reality. It’s all about perspective.”

Overall children enjoy these movies for the fairy tale ending. They need to believe that if they

grow up to be a good person that everything will be okay. Cinderella inspires one to follow their

dreams, Pinocchio teaches that lying is wrong and Lilo and Stich highlights the importance of

family. Several people in support of Disney argue that children are not even picking up on any

inappropriate topics, “when I was little I didn’t even think if these different ways the Disney

movies are portraying girls and women…when you are little you don’t even think about this”

(Disney’s Influence on Kids). Overall what children look for is the positive messages that no

matter what challenges life throws at you, you will always have a happy ending.

We were raised on Disney movies from Snow White to Cinderella, from Sleeping Beauty to Beauty and the Beast, and we learned more than a few simple lessons in love. We were taught to believe that every girl is a princess and deserves a prince, as well as her own happily ever after ending (A Disney’s Princess Guide to your not so happily after).

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Work Citedhttp://accustomedchaos.com/disney-movies-and-lack-of-positive-female-influence/

Facebook Survey of both male and female college kids

http://www.head-cleaners.com/moviesmessages.html

http://meganbauer.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/disneys-influence-on-kids/

http://search.proquest.com/psychology/docview/884455010/13381168F84782DCCDD/4?accountid=6199

http://www.springerlink.com/content/ur0122v877061r2j/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1rud7E/www.hercampus.com/love/disney-princess-guide-your-not-so-happily-ever-after

http://www.winmentalhealth.com/childrens_movies_media_effects.php