Linda Christensen is arguing in this article that what we perceive as our "culture" is really what systems of power (which I strongly feel is still accurately called patriarchy) use to force or convince us to buy into the systems, beginning with our early development. Patriarchal structures begin shaping children at a very young age what is "normal" and "right". Christensen is calling this a "secret education", because it is so subtle at times that most people never consider there is anything outside of the norm. She uses an extremely relevant example: Disney cartoons. Seemingly cute and innocuous, we as students of gender issues realize that this is not quite the case. What the big secret is is that in our general acceptance of cartoons and other media is that we are in a sense brainwashed to a point where we might stop critiquing media and culture altogether - which reminds me of bell hooks' idea that "the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house", so to speak.(If any non-gender studies people want a great article to think about when it comes to thinking about societal structures and even modern media, I highly recommend it!) Christensen is talking specifically about young schoolchildren, who are being herded into acceptance of media and the gender/class/race/sexuality roles they reinforce all the time, before they even have a chance to develop the skill of critique, which is extremely problematic in terms of striving for equality. She specifically mentions that little girls see Disney princesses and grow up thinking that marriage is the ultimate life goal, that "happy ever after" is something to worked for above all else, which fits perfectly into patriarchal heterosexism and heteronormativity. It's quite unsettling, both for me and for Christensen it seems, to think that as far as we've come, newer generations still have to battle to crippling pressure to conform.
My question for discussion is: what classic Disney film is the most harmful in terms of reinforcing gender roles, and why? Which is potentially the least harmful? I have a hard time watching The Jungle Book, because the racist content is off the charts.
My question for discussion is: what classic Disney film is the most harmful in terms of reinforcing gender roles, and why? Which is potentially the least harmful? I have a hard time watching The Jungle Book, because the racist content is off the charts.
Also, I always wanted to be a Disney villain as a little girl, what does that say about me?
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