Classic Disney films have delighted audiences for decades, but some scholars argue that they may carry harmful stereotypes and troubling messages.
Dr. Victoria Cann from the University of East Anglia highlights Beauty and the Beast as particularly problematic. She points out the underlying message that a woman’s perseverance can change an angry partner, while the Beast’s transformation into a blonde-haired man implies that good looks equate to kindness.
Concerns about racial representation also arise in films like Aladdin, where lighter-skinned characters are portrayed as good, while darker-skinned characters are villains. Similar patterns appear in The Lion King, where the antagonist Scar is notably darker than other characters.
Dr. Laura Coffey-Glover from Nottingham Trent University criticizes films like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty for unrealistic portrayals of women as passive figures waiting for male rescue. Scenes depicting non-consensual kisses and impossibly thin body standards further reinforce damaging narratives.
However, newer Disney films like Frozen are praised for embracing progressive themes such as female empowerment, friendship, and family loyalty, offering more positive messages for young audiences.
