Hey everyone,
I watched Disney’s Peter Pan made in 1953 again after many years. I didn’t realize all the political incorrectness in that movie. There was blatant sexism, racism, and classism. Not to mention that Tinker Bell is a stinking traitor and is not cool at all. How did she get her own pop cult? I for one don’t own and don’t want to own any of her merchandise.
The sexism is in how Wendy is treated. She’s treated like dirt by her parents, a “Native American” woman, and Peter Pan. Her parents and the “Native American” woman treated her like a 2nd class citizen while they treated the boys better and allowed them to do more than her. Peter Pan acted a lot like a playa and didn’t care for Wendy very much except to be a story teller that pumped up his ego, because all her stories were about him.
The Racism was in how Native Americans were portrayed and what they were called. They were called Reds and a good number of them were colored red. They also all spoke broken English, except for possibly Tiger Lily.
For Classicism? For one the lost boys in their animal costumes at one point literally bowed down and worshipped Peter Pan. Also, the Darling’s family dog, Nana, was the nanny and was treated poorly on top of that.
I love Disney, but this definitely wasn’t one of their best works. Not to mention that the story of Peter Pan inspires Michael Jackson, because he’s old but is still a child. Also, he named his ranch Neverland after the story.
Maybe the story itself was set up to be like this, but Disney could have done something about it, but then it was the 1950s. An idealized boys fantasy where they don’t have to obey rules and where there’s danger and adventure everywhere that come in the forms of pirates and “Indians” and where there are beautiful mermaids as well.
Kagehime
34 Comments
February 25, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I’m sorry if i seem rude here but you have completely missed the point of the story. Read the original by JM Barrie and you will understand the sinister and dark undertones of the story. I am studying it at degree level at the moment and feel very upset that you can undermine Disney’s creative ability to turn quite a tragic story in to something children can enjoy.
Kids like the idea of a world where they can do anything, what’s wrong with that? Were you never a child?
Peter acts horribly to Wendy because he doesn’t know any different, that is an element of tragedy.
Peter is a tragic character. The story shows that even though Peter says he doesn’t want a mum or a dad, he really does which is why is is delighted when Wendy says she’s going to read him stories and tuck him and the boys in at night.
I suggest you find the original stories and versions off films before you go round slating them.
The sexism is there to make a political statement, don’t you understand irony? The apparent ‘racism’ is there for the same reason. Plus, it’s okay to call African people Black, why can’t you call the Native Americans red? I’m white?! Is that racist?
Learn how to pick dialogue apart before you go round slagging off a piece of cinematic and literary art.
February 25, 2008 at 6:31 pm
To Charlotte, I don’t mean to sound rude, but you are wrong. First of all, it is a well known fact that Walt Disney was a racist. He even did a cartoon with donald duck as a nazi, which depicted Asians and Jews in a very negative light.
If you think undermining women and exploiting Native Americans is a way for children to enjoy disney, then I am sorry for you.
I first watched Peter Pan as a child, and to be honest, I didn’t like it.
Now, if you want to argue that the other versions are different, fair enough. But the fact remains, that the Disney version is socially offensive on many different levels.
And sorry, you can’t have it both ways. If the point of the movie is for children to enjoy, then I doubt it is there to make a political statement. I very much doubt Disney’s “Sound of the South” was as ironic as it was racist.
Furthermore, Native Americans are not red. Actually, they are the most racially mistaken group. Often times they are confused as being, latino, asian, and caucasian.
And no it’s not racist to call native americans red, it’s just out of date and ignorant.
~J
February 25, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Charlotte,
Well of course I was a child once and I know that irony is one thing that children have a hard time understanding.
And about calling Native Americans Red. I believe whites and blacks in America don’t want to be called European American or African American because it suggests that they came from those locations. Also, they chose to be called White and Black. Native Americans never asked to be called Red. Then do you think its okay to call Asians yellow?
I think you’re right that Peter Pan is a tragic figure, but it wasn’t like anyone else was treating Wendy better. People only saw her within the stereotypical female roles of daughter and mother.
And this movie was made in 1953, I don’t think Disney was worried about being racist.
I like the original J. M. Barrie story. What’s wrong with the story being an idealized fantasy for boys? I think they were the original target for the story.
Thank you for your comment,
Kagehime
March 1, 2008 at 6:43 am
I love this movie and you are right about a couple of things, but wrong more. I just finished watching my DVD copy of Peter Pan and Wendy’s parents did anything but treat her ‘like dirt’. Things were a hell of a lot different back in the 50’s and early 1900’s then they are right now. Charlotte made a lot of good points in her first comment.
I’m just defending the movie because I love it and nothing else. Besides, it was just 1 movie retelling. That doesn’t mean you should hate the actual story.
Thank you.
March 5, 2008 at 5:54 pm
loads crap
peter pan is a story not racist
its like saying harry potter is an evil book
March 13, 2008 at 1:49 am
Neverland is a boy’s imagination. Little boys play pirates and indians. They don’t play indigenous peoples. I’m sorry if that offends your delicate sensibilities, but political correctness would be plainly asinine in this context.
March 14, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Honestly,
it’s just a movie. Neverland was a place where children didn’t have to grow up. Children watched it and most liekly thought nothing of it. They didn’t understand anything about politics in the first place and grow learning about sexism, racism, and classicism. It’s just something to keep kids busy while parents are doing something.
March 15, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I agree that children will think nothing of it. They won’t know if anything is wrong with how the people are treated. The problem is if they think that that’s normal. A lot of times children aren’t exposed to all kinds of diversity and may be inclined to think for example that Native Americans actually act like that.
March 15, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Hmm, seems like time magazine would agree with some. They just posted a podcast about how racist and sexist disney is in the movie Enchanted. They even warn people to keep their kids away from the movie.
http://www.time.com/time/podcast/
March 19, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Peter pan was my favourite movie as a child and i watched it many times. I did not end up racist or sexist because of it. its just a fairy tale and shouldn’t be taken seriously. After all, it does take place in a fantasy world, is it possible to believe, even for a minute, that sexism and racism don’t exist in Neverland? They sure wern’t a reality for me as a child, being too young to understand those concepts. Obviously these things are a reality in the real world but the beauty of a fairy tale is being able to confuse reality. As mentioned above, Neverland is an imaginary world and it would ruin the fantasy of it to call the “reds” by a politically correct term. Also, if the way Wendy was treated changed, or if Tink wasn’t a backstabbing bitch, the story would not be the same. There is nothing wrong with the story of Peter Pan and I have yet to meet someone who has let the politically incorrect aspects of the movie influence their opinions.
March 20, 2008 at 9:05 am
Ok. Everyone should just chill with the comments. Its just a movie, and frankly, IMHO, not Disney’s best effort. I do think the terms used are insensitive but we are not calling for the head of Walt Disney. Walt Disney, peace be upon him, is still a fairly rich man and has not gone broke because of us. We have not called for resignations or condemnations of this movie (we are only poor miserable college students after all). Kagehime just said she found it somewhat racist and not that very good. Some are offended at this suggestion. Ok. Let’s agree to disagree.
March 24, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Also, guys, Please don’t post multiple posts with different names. We know your IP address and will delete any trolling.
April 27, 2008 at 8:29 pm
hi guys,
i would like to say it was qiute surprising for me to find such a discussion about peter pan. i have to say that peter pan is my most favorite fairy tail and i watched it a dozen of times when i was a kid and i never grew up neither to be a racist nor a sexist. for me it was simply a wonderful fairy tale. i think that we are all missing the whole point of this fairy tale…the message of the story is that at the end of the day the kids returned back home cos they realised that staying at neverland and never growing up wasnt that important for them. if you watch the movie carefully you will also realise that woman are givin a very important role, at the end of the day the boys realise that they cant stay without their moms and also without wandy. neither peter can stay without tinker no matter how bitchy she is. befor judging such a movie we should first watch it with a kids mind and heart because it was created for that purpose- to help kids fantasise and dream, [one last word... i dont see the point in mentioning micheal jackson... there is nothing wrong with him being so fascinated with such a fairy tale... pls leave him out of this]
anyways best regards
Daniela
May 6, 2008 at 3:47 pm
To Kagehime,
Okay if you think you are right. What will you do now will you try to remove a million dollar movie made for kids from the industrie because some poeple are called «Reds» and misstreatment of women. It is an old movie with old habits so I say we let the past in the past and try to make the future better. We cannot change the movie and it will still be a kid’s movie for a kid’s brain not a social plitical movie full of hidden messages. I think you have wasted your time doing this and frankly I am wasting mine by saying this.
Cristian
July 15, 2008 at 1:37 am
okay, i agree with Charlotte, read the novel. It explains so much that Disney unfortunately watered down, things that i’m sorry to say are far too complex for children to comprehend, which is why the story is notorious for being not only the perfect children’s story, but also a good story for adults, too.
Sexism: A. Peter was too young, too innocent and too ignorant to realize how he treated the mermaids, tinkerbelle, and wendy. If you read the story, it shows how he forgets all of his adventures and memories not long after he’s had them, which is why he remains so blissfully innocent and cannot learn or grow from his memories. Besides, every young boy treats girls like that, they think that they’re better, kind of like the chant “girls go to jupider” so it’s harmless. B. okay, the story was written in 1910-that’s how they treated women, get over it. It’s a part of history and if they didn’t show that in the movie then it would be just as mindless and politically correct as ‘Dora the Explorer,’ any child can tell that it was far back in the past and times have changed. Besides, if she hadn’t have been treated like that, she would have never followed peter to neverland and there would be no plot.
You do have a point on how Wendy was treated as a ’squaw.’ While there were certian gender rules of the Native Americans, just as there are gender rules of modern society, they were known as one of the most equal communities ever studied, actually, in some cases, women had more power than men.
Racism: My grandfather was half Native American (and yes, his skin was a reddish brown), and he never minded being called red. As to your asian comment above, i have an international friend from Malaysia, and he laughes at being called the ‘yellow kid with squinty eyes.’ It’s true, they have yellow skin, and there’s red and brown and black and white, it happens.
The racism is apparent when the lost boys call them ‘injuns,’ and yes, i agree that there is racism in the movie. However, this was my favorite story as a child, and i watched it over and over for hours. The only thing i got from the racism in both ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Dumbo’ is that it was wrong, whatever Walt Disney’s intention was. Your parents should have more influence in that area then a cartoon- i’m double majoring in Cultural Anthropology and International studies, obviously the movie didn’t affect me.
Seriously, read the book, and look for the symbolism, because there is just as much in ‘Peter Pan’ as in the book ‘Animal Farm’ or ‘Lord of the Flies,’ and there’s a good message there.
July 29, 2008 at 7:40 am
First off. It was Disney’s Peter Pan movie that I was first introduced to, then Steven Spielberg’s rendition of a grown up Peter Pan, in Hook. Mainly the story is what has the magic, and allure, Sir James Matthew Barrie was not a racist or a sexist, he loved kids, and wrote his play for kids. He imagined Neverland and created all of these characters that when you think about it where from outer space (second star to the right), but thats going way into the book. I don’t believe that Disney was a racist I think that like a lot of people today, he really didn’t mingle with a very diverse group of people and it reflects in his early cartoons. I however appreciate the magic and wonder that he introduced in my childhood, that has brought me into the wonderful world of Aviation. I am a huge fan of Sir James Matthew Barrie and to see his story get criticized as sexist, and racist, completely stuns me. I really hope you read the original story, and at least agree that the overall concept of Peter Pan is magical and if nothing else original.
August 28, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Oh. My. Gosh. How could you say such a thing about such a wonderful, classic tale? I LOVE Peter Pan and the story. Back then, laws and rights were different, so just chill. I’m really actually grateful to Disney for showing kids what life was like back then, and what women’s rights were back then. If you can’t face history hidden in a movie for children, then you probably can’t face reality. As for the whole “racist” thing, Peter Pan is a young boy, who doesn’t know about that kind of thing, (remember: he went to Neverland when he was a baby and fell out of his pram into Kengsington Gardens where he met Tink), and you’ll also notice that in the movie the Indians are singing the “Red Man” song also. Also- this is a stupid debate, because Peter Pan is a story to dream and fantasize about, not to criticize. It is my personal opinion that you should lay of Peter Pan, and that you just are saying all this criticism just to have something to stupidly argue. Stop this nonsense, and leave the movie Peter Pan alone. There’s nothing wrong with it, and you are just being a kill joy and a dream crusher. I can’t believe you’d post something like that on the WWW just so your life would be a little more exciting and something to lie about in your spare time. I hope people who read this will agree with me, because Peter Pan is a wonderful story that will go on in my heart forever.
-Maeve Pan
August 30, 2008 at 7:45 pm
The story has got some problems. Even if one reads the version by the honorable Sir James Matthew Barrie (I just got done reading to my daughter twice). The indians are of the ‘Picaninny’ tribe? Anybody ever heard of that one? Strike any chords?
All that being said, I explained to my daughter that people used to think, especially people with titles hailing from colonial powers, that many indigenous peoples were inferior to them. We did our own research about native americans on the internet that was a ball. We even looked up picaninny so we could iron that one out a bit. I also tell her that they had some rather ingnorant ideas about women also.
However, the book takes pot shots at a lot of people from many stations in life. The core of the book is a powerful fairy story that has really captured her imagination. Tink was her favorite, as she knew the icon before the character. Tink’s slipped quite a bit since the book and I’m happy she has the lesson that something attractive can become quite ugly.
The cartoon is run of the mill drivel from The Rat. Tink is a little tarty and the portrayal of the native americans, although criminal by todays standards, is typical of what was acceptable in its time.
September 20, 2008 at 7:39 am
Alright. I have read some pretty foolish things in my time, but this is the icing on the cake. First of all, whoever said that Disney was a racist is a complete moron. You stated that Disney showed Donald Duck as a Nazi? You are quite obviously ignorant about the World War two era at the Disney studios. The cartoon is called Der Fuehrer’s Face. It is a satire, and pure propaganda against the Nazi’s. The redman in Peter Pan may not be sound for our time; however if you look at ALL films from that time, Native Americans were portrayed in a stereotypical light. The thing of it is, I would not care, even today, if someone made fun of white people, and I am mostly white. I do not see a problem with satire, and I feel that one of our biggest problems nowadays is taking everything so seriously, that the humorous things (stereotypes, ethnic jokes) that make cartoons what they are, seem to be dissolving. People are so sensitive, and not because they want to be. Most people are afraid of offending someone. An example would be a white guy talking to a black guy about how much he hates racism, has a lot of black friends, etc. Why would you lower yourself in that way. All of the sensitivity has created even more racism. Get over YOURSELVES!!
September 26, 2008 at 9:57 pm
To everybody,
well I’m studying Barrie’s book and I don’t think peter Pan is sexist… he’s only an innocent boy.. he doesn’t know what he’s doing at all! The problem is that in the Disney’s version his behavior is intensified.
December 21, 2008 at 1:31 am
The 1953 Disney Peter Pan definitely plays on racist stereotypes. I still love the movie. It’s fun and over-the-top and the animation style is nice.
I think when one watches it, remember the film in it’s historic context. 1953 was a time when most film was seen through the eyes of middle-class to wealthy, white, American/European and Judeo-Christian filmmakers. It would take the cultural revolution of the late 1960’s to begin to change this. This shouldn’t mean you throw out the baby with the bath water, but understand it through context.
Also, I picked up the new Tinker Bell film for my daughter and it’s really good. It’s definitely not sexist. There’s only three men in the entire film and two of them are equals to Tinker Bell until Tinker shows she is more special and the other is the Queen’s assistant. So, the Tinker Bell script of the new film is definitely taken through a better world view. There are fairies of many different cultures and the animation was done very well. John Lassiter of Pixar produced it, so you know it’s good.
January 25, 2009 at 1:57 am
*sigh* I dont see why people dont just enjoy the movies made by Disney. So many are out just to make the movies seem worse then they are. I believe we should be thankful that Disney made such wonderful movies that my kids can watch, along with future generations. They tell of good stories with morals and let us not forget wat we did in the past. We cant let hostory repeat itself. :] peace people~
February 11, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Im sorry but,You’re very wrong about this movie.
This movie has no matter to racism.One,also Wendy was treated very much like a lady,She was tended to and was also praised.
The parents didn’t treat her like dirt.They were worried and wicked at times but they didn’t inflict or show any discrase to the children.
You can’t be mad at this classic movie!This inspired so many to keep moving with themselves.The book was made in 1904,Back in that time racism was around,Girls wer’ent even allowed to show their ankles.It was just revised from the book.
The children love this guy,He IS a show-off xD but that’s how most boys are.
It’s completley a pity that you underestimate Disney’s wonderful classic that inspired millions.Peter did in one part not of the movie but the book,In quote “Peter,forgetting Wendy’s great help,Pranced around and shouted:’How clever I am!I have my shadow back on!” Wendy hid under the cover’s but then he praised her and said “Wendy,you know one girl is as useful as twenty boys.”
This is a wonderful book,and movie.It’s horrible you can’t just take the movie for how it is..Incredible,not just look into the movie with every hint and detail.
Peacoez!~Whiskers
March 9, 2009 at 2:47 am
maybe all you have to do is read the book so you can clarify the issues you have raised. points there were explained well by barrie.
and, well, i believe if you’ll finish the book, you can tell yourself that the story is a whole lot different like what you have written here.
Disney’s style is to romanticise and twist the plot and characters of the stories they make as movies. i guess, it’s really just up to the audience if they will fall for what Disney is feeding them. just think well as you watch before you evaluate
March 31, 2009 at 12:38 am
I think you guys are just being stupid. Its just a movie and kids luv it! As a matter of fact, I myself am i kid and I absolutely love Peter Pan. Why do you people always have to look at the bad side of things. Whatever, you people know nothing about children and fun.
April 5, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I agree with everything Charlotte said. “Peter Pan” takes place in the 50’s! OF COURSE some things are different now. And Charlotte’s analysis of why Peter treats Wendy the way he does is excellent. You just need to chill out. “Peter Pan” is a wonderful classic with a good moral and underlying meanings that can speak to adults as well as children.
May 28, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Ughhh shut-the-fuck up! Enjoy the movie and quit over thinking it, jesus christ.
May 31, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I am SO with Maeve Pan here!
Peter Pan ROCKS.
The movie is a classic, its great.
June 9, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Okay, everyone here seems to be leaving comments like “sorry if this offends you” but I have a huge list of things I couldn’t care less about and your sensitivity is one of them. Seriously? You’re a moron.
Why is it everyone thinks that Disney are just a group of bigots that got together to promote sexism, ageism, racism and all other ‘isms’ for the fun of it in all of their movies?
This is NOT Disney’s own work – remember that world famous novel… oh what was it called? Oh, that’s right! PETER PAN!? It is based on that, which is set in the time it was written in – more than a century earlier than now. Guess what? People were treated different then – for their gender, for their race, for their position in the world in general. Accept it; deal with it; move on.
Peter Pan is idolised by the lost boys as he’s their protector – he’s like the older brother that they all look up to and want to be like and can rely on to keep them out of harm. Oh, and they’re all PLAYING ONE BIG GAME.
Your comments at the end actually made me laugh. As in, it made me LOL. You haven’t bothered to do the slightest research on the book before slandering Disney for the short-fallings of the TIMES’ (Not Disneys, NOR Barries). And what were Disney to do to it? Re-write the book so that people like you weren’t offended by how people back then acted – and in the context of a child’s fairy tale!?
Oh, and one thing that jumped out at me while you were going on about Disney’s apparent ignorance is the consistent use of the term “Native Americans” – they’re living on a damn star! What’s so American about them!?
August 2, 2009 at 8:49 pm
All I have to say is wow. I can not believe that you would take the time out of your meaningless life to come up with something like that. Everyone loves Peter Pan. Can you not enjoy something for what it is instead of finding details in it to turn it into something that it’s not. Peter Pan teaches you to accept people for who they are and to not jump to conclusions of something. You need to remember that Peter Pan was written in the 50’s so times were different then. That’s how it is shown in the move. Why would Disney go and change something? You are absolutely rediculous and to find something else to do in your life. If you don’t like Peter Pan, then that’s fine. No one said you had to watch it. So I don’t understand why you would want to go and try and ruin it for everyone else.
August 3, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I’m not sure if this was stated in another post as I did not read all 30 replies, but this is a response on your Tinkerbell comment.
I will admit that I’m too am not very fond of Tinkerbell but that’s more because all of the merchandise that is Peter Pan, is usually Tink. She gets more attention than she deserves, however, calling her a backstabbing bitch is a little harsh.
In the book it’s stated that fairies are so small, they only have room for one emotion at a time. She couldn’t help but be jealous, or a bit evil. And in her mind she wasn’t backstabbing Peter, she was getting rid of Wendy.
And the mermaids? In the original story, they were evil.
I know it’s just a book and a story, but I just wanted to put it out there. xP
November 9, 2009 at 6:31 am
Wow, you read WAY too much into a CARTOON movie produced by DISNEY.
While, as a writer, I do believe that every movie has some sort of message I think that you misread it.
It’s a frivolous movie about a place where kids don’t have to grow up and can do whatever they want.
It’s a fun movie about being a child and having fun.
I repeat it is a fun children’s movie about silly things and bumbling pirates.
P.S. Lighten up a bit would ya?
November 9, 2009 at 6:35 am
P.P.S. I really don;t care if my comment seemed rude or offended you.
November 15, 2009 at 3:36 am
Not to be rude but WTF? It’s just a /story/! Do you see me whining that King Trident isn’t letting Ariel become a human? Excuse me? Tinkerbell a back stabber? ITS A CHARACTER DAMN IT! WHAT DO WE CARE? IT’S PART OF HER CHARACTER!
Okay, sorry for that but dude. It’s a cartoon. Why don’t you complain about real things like the economy we live in then bull sh*tting about a cartoon!