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Disney's Loss of Innocence: language, race and gender in children's animated movies
Posted on February 1, 2016 by Grace @ Cultural Life
Disney Orlando castle at night. By Veryhuman (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Most of my peers grew up with Disney animated movies. They watched the classics — The Lion King, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast… I didn't. To this day, I've seen a grand total of two Disney animations: Dumbo and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Yes, yes, I know. I haven't seen The Lion King, or Bambi, which is sometimes marked out as an oddity if it comes up in conversations with friends, as though I'm confessing an eccentric habit.
Disney's movies are a fond presence in millions of childhoods throughout the world, and beyond (last year, a friend asked me if I wanted to go and see Cinderella with her. I suggested Far from the Madding Crowd instead). But these movies aren't as child-friendly and full of innocent wonder as they seem. In fact, they have some symbolism in them that is pretty downright disturbing.
Carmen Fought's sociolinguistic research project is making headlines in the news right now. With her colleague, Karen Eisenhauer, they're analyzing the dialogue in Disney's princess movies and collecting data on the amount of times each character speaks. You'd expect the older movies – released in the 1930s and 1950s – to be male-dominated, right? Back in those days, career options for women were limited and society viewed women's place as in the home, e.g. the proverbial '50s housewife.
Well, no. The surprising fact is that the male/female dialogue in the early princess movies is relatively balanced: 50/50 in Snow White (1937) and in Cinderella (1950), women speak 60% of the time. But in Disney's modern princess movies, such as The Little Mermaid, men do most of the talking. Case in point: in Beauty and the Beast, men speak 71% of the time. In Pocahontas, it's 76% of the time.
Although the older Disney animations were more balanced in terms of gendered dialogue, their use of accents to index racial stereotypes is problematic. Indeed, when isn't stereotyping problematic, even though our brains seem hard-wired to group people, objects and situations into categories?
Walt Disney's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Public domain photo by Neelix via Wikimedia Commons
Rosina Lippi-Green, an American linguist, extensively researched accent use in Disney's animations from 1938 to 1994. Unsurprisingly, considering that Disney is a major American movie studio, the majority of characters speak with General American accents. Most of the good characters speak with American accents too, even when the ethnicity of these characters clearly isn't American (e.g. Aladdin and Princess Jasmine in Aladdin).
But Lippi-Green found that the characters who speak foreign-accented English are more often the ones who are evil or act badly: "Around 20 per cent of U.S. English speakers are bad characters, while about 40 per cent of non-native speakers of English are evil" (Lippi-Green, 2011).
Many other characters are given linguistic stereotypes. The male characters who speak African American English (or African American Vernacular English, as it's referred to by sociolinguists) "seem to be unemployed or show no purpose in life" (Lippi-Green, 1997: 94), perpetrating a highly offensive stereotype of male African Americans as idle, lazy and jobless. To give just one example out of many: the aimless crows in Dumbo speak AAVE.
The question you might ask is, well, what does it matter if my child watches the animated canon of Disney movies? Your average four year old isn't going to be taking notes on how many lines each character has, or analyzing whether the good character speaks with a Western accent as opposed to a foreign one. It would be ludicrous to suggest that every child who grows up with Disney is going to end up being a prejudiced bigot.
Public domain photo by hhyunma
But the stereotypes and categorizations highlighted by Fought, Eisenhauer, Lippi-Green and colleagues are more treacherous than you might think. The effect of subliminal messages can be immensely powerful.
"…children are not passive vessels who sit in front of the television and let stories float by them. What they take in is processed and added to the store of data on how things – and people – are categorized" (Lippi-Green, 2011, p. 104).
Disney movies may seem to be harmless entertainment for all the family, but the messages within them contribute to reinforce the way we (and by 'we', I mean society in general) view the world. Fought and Eisenhauer's explanation for the uneven balance of male/female dialogue in Disney's more recent princess movies isn't that Disney has a patriarchal agenda. It's simply that masculinity tends to be the default – these movies have larger casts but fewer female roles. In the Washington Post article about Fought and Eisenhauer's research, Eisenhauer comments:
My best guess is that it's carelessness, because we're so trained to think that male is the norm," says Eisenhauer, a graduate student at North Carolina State. "So when you want to add a shopkeeper, that shopkeeper is a man. Or you add a guard, that guard is a man. I think that's just really ingrained in our culture."
How many of you, reading this post right now, automatically use 'he' if you're unsure of the gender of something (a bird flying overhead, say, or a dog you just met on the street)? I know I do, and I often do it unconsciously before correcting myself.
Ultimately, the problem with the categorizations witnessed in many Disney animations is that they introduce their young viewers to a deeply flawed view of the world. It isn't simply a matter of 'political correctness gone mad', as some people complain. When cartoon characterizations – such as the unemployed African American – are used repeatedly and systematically, they form implicit messages that good and bad is linked to race and skin colour. Through the use of accents and dialects to signify character traits, stereotypes are strengthened.
We begin to form categories right from the start of our lives, when we begin to perceive the world and learn to connect language with meaning. And when the average American five-year-old watches 32 hours of television per week, exactly what they are taking in from the media is a question worth asking.
Children learn by observing. Public domain photo by Timon Studler
The question, perhaps, is not whether Disney has lost its innocence, but whether it was ever there in the first place.
What do you think? Do share your thoughts in the comments section – I'm interested in your views.
If you're interested in reading more, Lippi-Green has the following essay on her website: Teaching Children How to Discriminate: What we learn from the Big Bad Wolf
The quotes in this post are from:
Lippi-Green, R. (1994). English with an Accent: Language, Ideology and Discrimination in the United States. First edn, New York: Routledge.
Lippi-Green, R. (2011). English with an Accent: Language, Ideology and Discrimination in the United States, Second edn, New York: Routledge.
Guo, J. (2016). Researchers have found a major problem with 'The Little Mermaid' and other Disney movies. The Washington Post. [Online]. January 25 2016.
This entry was posted in Linguistics, Movies, Uncategorized and tagged academia, culture, Disney, feminism, films, gender, linguistics, movies, sociolinguistics, WPLongForm by Grace @ Cultural Life. Bookmark the permalink.
139 thoughts on "Disney's Loss of Innocence: language, race and gender in children's animated movies"
Miriam on February 1, 2016 at 3:02 pm said:
Very interesting. We're not a Disney family- it wasn't a conscious decision, just not my thing and my kids ended up not being that interested. My mother-in-law is the type to go see Disney movies as an adult, and I think my husband was happy to marry someone with more grown-up tastes 😉
My older kids saw many of the movies, but my younger boys just didn't gravitate toward them at all. We've never taken our kids to Disney World, and I don't think they feel deprived. For the money, there are so many places we'd rather go.
One thing that always bugs us is how many people just know the Disney version of a classic, rather than the original story. Some of the original stories may be dark, but to just know the dumbed-down, sanitized version seems odd.
I guess a lot of adults enjoy Disney movies because they bring back fond childhood memories. And it's probably similar with Disney World. I don't want to sound sanctimonious or like I'm judging anyone who chooses to go, but to me personally, it just seems so commercialized.
Oh yes! Grimm's fairytales, which a lot of Disney stories (such as The Little Mermaid) are based on are…well…pretty grim.
lovetrusthope on February 10, 2016 at 2:45 pm said:
I grew up with Disney in the house. I also read Grimm's Fairy Tales at night, and my much older sister succumbed me to Nightmare on Elm Street before age 8 while I played with Barbie in her princess dream palace. Growing up, I think there was a healthy balance between fairy tale magical silver linings and nightmarish evil lurking in the dark.
For many years, I scoffed at "grown ups" who watched animated movies out of choice and without kids involved. That was until I recently had a terrifying experience for 3 weeks studying abroad. When I came home, all I wanted to do was get lost in hope and silver linings because I felt immersed in a nightmare spinning out of control that didn't seem to end. The reality of the world was a bit scarring and jarring and my shattered spirit needed a sugary juice box, a warm blanket, and to be told that everything was really going to be okay.
Times change. Individuals change. It's a beautiful part of human adaptability and resilience. It's also beautiful to be artistic and express oneself creatively in life. We're all wired with biases and prejudices. That's just the nature of humans. There's no getting around it. The only thing that can be done is to acknowledge it, and accept it. If everyone were the same and there were no accents, no different races, no different languages, no different cultures, I think the world would be pretty bland. Like eating mashed potatoes for dinner every night, and only mashed potatoes. As much as I love buttery, creamy, comforting mashed potatoes, think of everything I'd miss out on – spicy Indian food, nutty Thai food, heavy German food, healthy Paleo (US American?) food. Variety and moderation are key in any kind of diet, whether that diet is ingested via movies, food, experiences, education, or social interactions. It creates a whole person and fosters awareness of what the world and its people can be like – good, bad, beautiful, and ugly.
I'm sorry to hear about your study abroad experience. I hope you're okay. I don't know what happened to you, but yes, I agree — there's nothing wrong with finding comfort in sweetness and silver linings.
Thank you for your lovely and thoughtful comment. 🙂
Spiritsong on February 10, 2016 at 4:35 pm said:
The "Little Mermaid" isn't one of the Grimms' Fairy Tales. It was a story written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. He also wrote, "The Little Match Girl" and "The Princess and the Pea".
Grimms' Fairy Tales has stories like Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Little Snow White.
That all aside, Disney does a great job of placing the characters from these stories in their time and place in history from where the plot of the story is centred.
Oh, my bad! For some reason, my brain seems to conflate the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, even though I had their storybooks on my childhood bookshelf. Thanks for correcting me. 🙂
glattheranch on February 2, 2016 at 8:58 pm said:
I think hype sensitivity to trivial matters such as someone referring to something in the male form when they are unsure of the gender and other such things you've pointed out are much more damning to our culture than Disney movies. Hopefully our children learn the world will not cater to everything that upsets them and to develop their own opinions on people despite stereotypes.
I agree with you — hopefully children will form their own opinions without labeling or stereotyping people.
But we're all influenced by the society we live in — and accent is a very strong indicator of the way we form judgements. For instance, the media tends to display negative stereotypes about some Southern accents. Even if they aren't necessarily negative things, I think we often associate certain qualities or traits with accents, like the Californian "Valley Girl" (to give another example).
So the aim of my post is really to point out how Disney uses accents as a way of forming characters, and children can pick up on that kind of thing from a young age.
Most of the male African American-accented characters in Disney movies are either lazy, aimless or frightening characters.
Most of the good characters have white British or American accents, but the evil characters are significantly more likely to have foreign accents. Isn't that worth considering?
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. It's an interesting discussion, and I hoped my post would spark debate. 🙂
Cecilia Mary Gunther on February 3, 2016 at 3:19 am said:
It is an interesting discussion and one I have been thinking about for years.. I think the best antidote is tons of family time where parents and children (hopefully over dinner) DISCUSS these things – lets talk about it – with our kids. Thank you! An excellent essay on the topic.
I agree — it's important to openly discuss these issues, and definitely not just in an academic context.
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed my post. 🙂
Wayne Holmes on February 9, 2016 at 2:16 pm said:
That is absolutely key! Unfortunately, our children (who we are hopefully teaching properly) are inevitably exposed to children of parents less involved (or, perhaps, just as involved but in ways contrary to our teachings). But, we can only do the best we can do and be the best we can be. Aside from teaching and discussing, we must make sure to MODEL appropriate character and socialize them with others who will also model said character.
lillianccc on February 6, 2016 at 11:16 pm said:
This is such a fascinating topic and I'm glad you wrote about this! I wasn't necessarily a total Disney fanatic growing up but I did see my fair share of Disney movies. I remember being absolutely drawn in by Mulan and being so excited by it. At the time, I didn't think much of it but in retrospect, I think it's because for the first time in my childhood, I was seeing MY culture being represented in mainstream media (there were probably some problematic representations in there too but we won't go into that). Overall though, I agree with you that even such seemingly trivial details like accents are maybe the ones that are most damaging, precisely because they are so trivial and hence we're not actively conscious of how we perceive them until it's too late. I tend to zero in on visual cues, from skin color to body language but your point about accents and auditory cues is just as valid. Lots of food for thought here, great post! 🙂
I think Disney is omnipresent in many childhoods. It's such a huge part of our Western culture. Even my eight-year-old niece, whose parents don't actively encourage Disney, is obsessed with Frozen. I'm on the train home right now from spending the weekend with them, and she was very proud of all the Frozen merchandise she has bought with her pocket money. 🙂
Yeah, I just think accents are so interesting. Even as adults who consciously think about these topics, we seem to inevitably hear accented speech through the filter of our own perceptions. There has been a lot of sociolinguistic research about accents and perceptions — it's fascinating!
Allie Zottola on February 7, 2016 at 6:08 pm said:
This is so interesting! I have often thought about how SO many Disney movies feature one or both of the main characters parents as deceased?! I didn't think much about how much the women speak, but now I'm going to be looking out for all of the things you mentioned in this post next time I see a Disney movie!
It's interesting that you mention deceased parents in many Disney movies. When I was researching this post, I found an article that talked about how Disney's plots often involve characters who face hard times (including the deaths of their parents) and through them, they reach maturity. I guess the Cinderella story is a prime example.
Singbetterenglish on February 9, 2016 at 4:47 pm said:
Hi Grace – enjoyed reading your post. Just in case any of your readers are in or visiting London, there's an exhibition at the Foundling Museum about orphans, foundlings and fostered children in literature: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jan/01/drawing-on-childhood-foundlings-museum-exhibition
To add to your discussion about the choice of accents for villains in Disney/Hollywood films – as a speaker of BBC British English, it's amusing to see how many villains in American films speak with a posh British accent. It reminds me of the accent that British actors playing German officers would use in old World War II films – clipped and pointedly posh = evil, where the posh British officers would have a more rounded, relaxed well-spoken accent, representing the plucky Brits and the status quo of our class system.
Thanks for the link. That exhibition looks really interesting.
Ah, that's a fascinating observation. I don't think we'll ever stop making associations between accents and personality/character traits. Perception and attitudes is such a rich area of linguistic research — plenty of opportunities for new studies.
Yes, definitely!!
Interesting. The only…argument I'd like to make is that while male dialogue may outweigh female dialogue in quantity, I believe a close study of the content of the dialogue will reveal that male dialogue is very driven toward making them appear shallow, foolish, ignorant, and stupid. Female dialogue is less in quantity, however they are typically far wiser, caring, and meaningful in the words they say. I feel confident in saying (as a father of a young daughter), that women are presented with much more respectable character than men in most modern animated films.
In terms of racial/cultural stereotyping, I agree that some (maybe even most) of it is a little over the top and unnecessary. My gut reaction is to say that it's just because it helps children identify and remember different characters. However, I then realized that maybe we shouldn't be encouraging such simplified thinking in our children.
Interesting thoughts. I really enjoyed the article. It is thought-provoking and insightful. Thank you.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I'm glad that you enjoyed my article. 🙂
It's very interesting to hear your perspective on the type of dialogue as opposed to the quantity. That's a good point, and one that I think would be advisable for the researchers to consider.
After all, as I used to remind myself when writing long essays for my classes, it's quality rather than quantity that counts. It's better to write (or say) fewer words of genuine meaning than many words without substance.
hermesssaglaea on February 10, 2016 at 1:02 pm said:
When you are talking about male dialogue outweigh female dialogue, where do you mean: in real life or in cinemas or in literature? Cause I'm not sure that it can apply to the real life.
Wayne Holmes on February 10, 2016 at 2:04 pm said:
Oh, I meant in terms of the animated cinema the blog writer was originally discussing.
I might disagree. It feels for me like female part in Disney always presented by naïve, innocent and slightly stupid girls
emmilleriowa on February 9, 2016 at 2:13 pm said:
Very interesting and poignant topic! I actually grew up being annoyed by Disney, but I'm a middle child, so I'm annoyed by everything my siblings like. I find myself watching them more as an adult for the emotions that are conveyed. I cry every time during Beauty and the Beast when she confesses her love for him as he dies, or during The Princess and the Frog when the mosquito sacrifices himself. Also Lady and the Tramp, Toy Story 3… The only one I've truly disliked for it's message is The Little Mermaid. It's similar to my dislike of Grease – if you can't get your man, change for him, ladies. That does not sit well with me.
I consider myself a feminist and activist, and I've never noticed what you've described above. I do now see what you are pointing out, however, so I don't disagree. I have to hope that these things are not done intentionally though and are part of the many things in society that are done that end up being insensitive in some way. Granted, the crude and racist depictions made in Dumbo (also makes me cry) are pretty blatant, but I hope that we have come a long way from when that film was made. And when my daughter watches that movie at an older age, we will talk about how that was an unfair characterization.
Also – I'm not as sensitive as this post describes me to be ;). For some reason, Disney movies just get me in the heartstrings.
Oh, some children's movies are real tear-jerkers, aren't they? I cry when beloved characters die in the Harry Potter movies!
Yes, I doubt that the use of accents to evoke specific characteristics is always an intentional, conscious choice. It's more likely to be that it reflects lingering stereotypes in society as a whole.
Thanks for your lovely comment. 🙂
TodaysPippa on February 9, 2016 at 2:13 pm said:
It's wonderful when someone acknowledges the implications of media on early childhood social and emotional development. Especially when media demonstrates the pervasive omission of important female roles and their influences! Thankfully, the introduction of Pixar to the Disney seems to have created a balance with Princesses like Merida and Anna/Elsa having a more prominent role than their male counterparts.
However it still remains that the parents of children hold some antiquated views on what is male and what is female and the meaning behind these roles. And this could be a far more influential pressure on children's understanding of gender than any Disney movie.
Rome wasn't built in a day, mind you. Perhaps we praise how far we have come but understand that there is still a very long way to go!
Grace @ Cultural Life on February 10, 2016 at 10:36 am said:
I think the media is a really important area of study because it is so pervasive. We're flooded with media info from so many sources – online, the TV, magazines… – and it's worth considering what impact it has on children's development.
I haven't seen any of the recent Pixar movies, but they sound as though women and girls have more equal roles in them, which is encouraging.
I agree with you that parental views can be more influential than movies. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. 🙂
barbaraduffy on February 9, 2016 at 2:22 pm said:
The Donkey in Shrek was great — but so wrong.
I've never seen Shrek, apart from a few trailers. I'm curious to know what's wrong with the Donkey. Cultural/racial stereotyping?
alysritt on February 9, 2016 at 2:25 pm said:
Reblogged this on Just a Blip on the Radar and commented:
An intriguing facet on socioeconomic influences and discrimination as it pertains to Disney's problematic utilization of dialect.
Grace @ Cultural Life on February 10, 2016 at 12:33 pm said:
Thanks for reblogging. 🙂
Catherine on February 9, 2016 at 2:34 pm said:
I could care less what Disney does because I've got more important issues to ponder. Having done the "obligatory " trips to Disney World when the kids were young, I couldn't enjoy myself because I was too fascinated by the enormous amount of adults with missing or no teeth, eyeglasses held together with white medical tape, tattered clothing, greasy hair and bad sneakers. Yet, they were sporting over priced Mickey Mouse shirts and sweatshirts and carrying Disney trinkets in Disney totes. So depressing that I needed to pop my meds. In the words of my dearly-departed dad: " To think a god damn mouse started all this shit"..
Well, these issues can be viewed as quite important, depending on who they influence. If young children are being repeatedly exposed to certain subliminal messages, it could have an impact on them, as linguistic research is indicating.
Catherine on February 10, 2016 at 1:04 pm said:
I never relied on animated characters to teach my children about social or cultural or object lessons in life. I did that. It was my responsibility as a loving and caring parent. As such I have three socially aware and caring adults.
nataliarawanda0 on February 9, 2016 at 3:00 pm said:
Bem interessante essas pessoas sao bem criativas na hora de posta suas "matérias".
lifeexpandable on February 9, 2016 at 3:32 pm said:
well entertainment means are now used for deception too. sad fact hey if you have time i would love you to also read this and leave a comment for me to improve. hehe still a newbie in blogging 🙂 https://lifeexpandable14.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/inquisitive-mind/
That's true — entertainment can be used as propaganda sometimes. But I doubt very much that Disney is using their animated movies to "deceive" children.
You might like to check out the WordPress Community Pool (if you Google it, it will come up). There are opportunities for everyone to give and receive feedback about their blogs, and I find it very helpful. 🙂
lifeexpandable on February 11, 2016 at 9:39 pm said:
i agree, but it's too early and too safe to assume they're innocent tho.
oh okay 🙂 thanks grace! God bless you!
stephen5991 on February 9, 2016 at 3:44 pm said:
I think you might be on to something with the fact that characters who speak foreign accented English are often the antagonists, but the supposed decrease in dialogue for female characters is probably just a coincidence.
Still, it is a thought-provoking post and one that shows a good use of published research findings.
I guess it's hard to prove for sure, as many of the characterisations in Disney are probably subconscious.
Thanks for commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed my post and the inclusion of research to back up my thoughts. Academics are great at doing interesting research, but they're not always as good at communicating it beyond their niche academic community. Fought and Eisenhauer's Disney princess research project (which is still in its early stages) has been widely reported though — I first heard about it from The Washington Post.
thatgirlheloved on February 9, 2016 at 3:52 pm said:
I love your blogs. I am a new blogger, recently started writing. Would up you please read my blogs? I would be extremely obliged. Cheers.
You might like to take a look at the WordPress Community Pool. It takes place every Monday, and there are plenty of opportunities for bloggers to give and receive feedback. All the best with your blog. 🙂
thatgirlheloved on February 16, 2016 at 6:13 am said:
forbiddennightmares on February 9, 2016 at 4:18 pm said:
I loved this post, it was a great angle on these racial issues that have been around so long. I believe that some movies do go too far in relation to picking characters and their personalities. But i also thin its a creative right to be able to make the characters from your imagination. I don't feel as if they targeted people but just found that some characters worked better with different traits. Loved the read. Although I've only been to Disney land once, I always found comfort in their movies as a child, not so much as an adult.
Thanks for your kind comment. I appreciate it. 🙂
"i also think its a creative right to be able to make the characters from your imagination" — Oh, absolutely! IMO it just gets problematic if accents are repeatedly being used as a method for evoking specific traits.
I suppose another question that could be asked is: does it matter if accents are used to convey positive character traits/stereotypes? Or is it only an issue when accents are being used to convey offensive stereotypes? E.g. giving a chef a French accent may be relying on cliches and stereotypes of French culinary excellence, but it's not exactly racially offensive.
Lots to ponder over…
swhalen127 on February 9, 2016 at 4:49 pm said:
While I'll agree that Disney has had their issues with gender and racial stereotypes, I think the "silent princess" theory should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, some of the referenced characters (Ariel and Pocahontas) had specific reasons for their silence. Pocahontas lacked English at first. Ariel's silence was part of the original fairy tale by Hand Christian Anderson and, if anything, it emphasizes the importance of her voice as part of her identity.
Other characters, like Tiana from Princess and the Frog, Anna from Frozen, and Belle from Beauty and the Beast, are not "silent" at all.
That's a really good point. One of my colleagues pointed out yesterday that a major plot point of The Little Mermaid is her inability to talk. And I hadn't thought about that aspect of Pocahontas. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
teilzeitanarchistin on February 9, 2016 at 4:59 pm said:
Very interesting. I live in Germany where Disney is not as big as in the US, but very present nevertheless. The first Disney film I actively remember is "The Aristocats", which is definitely loaded with negative gender stereotypes. It follows a classical damsel (with children) in distress plot. All the brave characters are male. As much as I love "Everybody wants to be a cat", I think it's dangerous to throw these role models at little girls.
Greetings, Kim
Ah, yes — the swashbuckling, brave, adventurous characters are almost always male. But it's encouraging that new characters, who don't always fit in a stereotypical female role, are becoming popular. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games springs to mind…
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
amethyst on February 9, 2016 at 6:15 pm said:
This new information is very interesting. As much as I like watching a lot of Disney Movies, especially "The Lion King" and "The Little Mermaid", I haven't watched any of those Disney movies I watched when I was small in a while. I've always loved the laughter, kindness, music and the magic in the movies. It makes my heart leap!
Kind regards, Amethyst
It's nice to hear that the movies have positive messages too. I haven't seen the new version of Cinderella (the non-animated one), but I read a blog post recently which praised its "Have courage and be kind" message.
Amethyst on February 11, 2016 at 4:50 am said:
The new Cinderella movie is way better than the animated one. So when you watch it I'm sure you'll love it!!!
Back when the non-animated version was released I wrote about it in my blog. Her is another view on the film: http://atypical60.com/2015/03/30/the-lost-weekend-chronicles-part-two-sick-with-cinderella-on-saturday-a-bit-of-shopping-on-sunday/
Thanks for sharing. I'll check out your post.
MotherMaryJaneblog on February 9, 2016 at 7:37 pm said:
Great read I always mention this to my husband a lot of hidden things in Disney movies. Most noticeable to me would be Cinderellas mice. And don't worry bambi is pretty traumatic anyway 😉
Hmm, what's up with the mice? I haven't seen Cinderella, so I'm curious to know.
Oh yes, I've heard about what happens in Bambi…too sad!
artseafartsea on February 9, 2016 at 8:53 pm said:
It seems to me that the more we advance as a society, the more we stay the same. The old stereotypes are still with us and so they will always be it seems. Most of the movies today, at least the big money makers, are starring men and filled with violence. It is hard to find a movie that I would actually like to see now in the movie theaters.
Some of them certainly seem to be pervasive and long-lasting.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. 🙂
artseafartsea on February 12, 2016 at 8:03 am said:
Happy to. 🙂
Anne Q. L on February 10, 2016 at 4:09 am said:
sometimes, children are just fascinated wit what they see as the characters act and play on the movie. they would only understand things when they watched it couple of times or if they can already understand the gist behind the story and the symbolism it has. But at the end of the day, parents should be the one responsible on explaining things to what they're watching. that's why its 'parental guidance is advised' is being seen.
That's true — children won't consciously understand the symbolism or intentionally make the connection between accent use and gendered or racial stereotypes. But Rosina Lippi-Green suggests that "Animated films entertain, but they are also a vehicle by which children learn to associate specific characteristics and life styles with specific social groups, and to accept a narrow and exclusionary world view".
I agree with you that parents are ultimately responsible. Talking about issues like these around the dinner table, as Cecilia mentioned further up the comments section, is a good idea.
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ivikussmaul on February 10, 2016 at 5:09 am said:
Hi there! I'm feeling a bit as if you were telling my story. My mother let me grow up without anything Disney-, Barbie- and babyborn-related stuff and when I first saw a Disney movie, which was "frozen", apparently, I just felt super-weird by how skinny and weirdly animated they were. I totally agree that children get a lot of influence through tv. Where I currently live, in China, children watch far less tv and I can really see a difference! Thanks for your great description!
Do you feel as though you missed out by not growing up with Disney movies or Barbie? I have to say, I don't, even though people of my generation sometimes think it's unusual. 🙂
It's interesting to hear that children watch less TV in China. If they spend more time playing, away from screens (TV and computers/tablets/phones), that seems to be a better option.
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed my article. 🙂
Haha noooo my childhood was great! I am often asked questions like that: "you haven't watched Arielle? God you must've had no childhood!" Do you get that, too?
In China, even the young children need to study a lot, so in the remaining time the parents will tell them to go out or spend time with the family. I think it's nicer that way…
Yes, people are sometimes incredulous at my lack of Disney knowledge. I don't feel deprived by not watching lots of Disney animations as a child though. 🙂
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oshrivastava on February 10, 2016 at 10:04 am said:
Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
Why don't I show Disney to my daughter? Because there is nothing to digest in those cartoons. They are flat. Those cartoons are so polished, they represent only rosy personalities and premade a decisions who is bad and who is good for us. It is reminds me fast food, which was already processed before by someone and "recycled" straight into my mouth. I probably even don't need to digest it already…cause nothing left there. Don't get me wrong – it made beautifully!
I guess it's difficult to find a balance between simplified stories, which are accessible and suitable for young viewers, and nuanced media which goes straight over their heads. But creating characters without relying on accent would be a good start.
I like your fast food comparison. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I think Pixar does it well
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criticofpolitics on February 10, 2016 at 1:35 pm said:
Reblogged this on Critic of Politics and commented:
An interesting article that complies studies of various academics that dissect the unequal and/or essentialist representations of different groups in popular Disney movies.
These unequal/essentialist representations are especially salient because of the popularity of Disney movie among children, thus strongly impacting child socialization.
annahayblog on February 10, 2016 at 1:43 pm said:
An interesting read on many of the topics raised in this article is a novel by Peggy Orenstein called, 'Cinderella Ate my Daughter.' It is amazing that still in the 21st century we still face such inequality and gender stereotypes.
I haven't heard of that book. It sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for suggesting it — I'll check it out.
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the-machineless-sewist on February 10, 2016 at 1:59 pm said:
This is fascinating! Like a lot of people here, I've thought about this a lot, and it's good to know people are really researching it and coming to meaningful conclusions.
I am interested though – I come from a very feminist family, and Beauty and the Beast has been (and still is) one of our favourite films. I think Belle is a pretty strong role model so I'm surprised to see the gender balance in how much the characters speak.
The other one I'm thinking of is Mulan… awesome female role model but in a film massively (and necessarily for the story) dominated by male characters. Any numbers for that one?
The best version of Beauty and the Beast is Jean Renoir's "La Belle et La Bete" starring Jean Marais. Watched it last week for the umpteenth time. It's a great, great version.
Yes, this new research is really interesting. I look forward to hearing more about Fought and Eisenhauer's Disney princess project — it's in progress.
The Washington Post article that I linked to in my post (here's the URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/25/researchers-have-discovered-a-major-problem-with-the-little-mermaid-and-other-disney-movies/) has some charts with male/female dialogue stats from various Disney movies. They reported that men speak 77% of the time in Mulan.
Re: the gender balance in Beauty and the Beast, it could be that Belle speaks approximately the same time as her suitor (I'm only vaguely familiar with the story) but that other speaking parts in the movie are mostly male characters.
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A Southern Nomad on February 10, 2016 at 2:54 pm said:
Great thoughts, really appreciate your point of view on this.
Lee on February 10, 2016 at 4:02 pm said:
Yes, I knew about these depictions.
Look at any old cartoons and you're sure to find racist depictions of people somewhere.
That's true. But even some relatively recent cartoons (Lippi-Green looked at Disney movies from 1938-1994) use accent as a way of signifying characteristics.
It would be interesting to repeat her study, looking from 1994 up to the present day. I wonder how much has changed in the past couple of decades…
issyinthekitchen on February 10, 2016 at 6:00 pm said:
I think its very important to spread the languages at Disney
celticwicked on February 11, 2016 at 12:44 am said:
Absolutely nothing in this article is new information. This is all the same disney is satan conspiracy theories that you really have to look for to even see. This all comes from bored grown ups forcing themselves to watch disney movies with their kids and looking for things to get offended at instead of just watching the movie that they most likely had to sit through fifty times already with their kid. Most of the things if not all in this article are things you would have to LOOK for intentionally to see. Im not saying there isnt steriotyping, thats a fact of life no matter what they do though, because you choose to see the characters as reprosentations of a race instead of their own person, youll think of whatever theyrr doing as a steriotype. No one says disney thinks white people are all witches because of Maleficent, so why assume theyre saying all arabic people are evil wizards because of jafar? Before you call disney culturally biased, look at yourself and how you force a single member of a race to decide on how all members of that race act in your mind. As for children being influenced by it? They dont. A child will see a person as a person and nothing more unless they have been conditioned from their parents or people around them to judge others any different. And the same goes with gender roles.
"No one says disney thinks white people are all witches because of Maleficent, so why assume theyre saying all arabic people are evil wizards because of jafar?" — actually, that isn't what the researchers are saying.
There is a well-documented body of research on these issues, carried out by linguists who are interested in language, accents and the media. This research shows that there are systematic patterns of accent use in Disney movies, i.e. it's not just a random coincidence.
Lippi-Green and many others have analyzed Disney animations from the 1930s up to the present day. Their findings are backed up by statistical data that shows that evil characters are significantly more likely to have foreign (i.e. non-American) accents than the good characters. Here's an article which talks about those statistics. Out of the 371 characters that Lippi-Green analyzed, the majority of good characters are American, whereas the majority of evil characters are foreign-accented.
And it's not about deciding how all members of a race should act. You probably know that African American English has long been stigmatized in the States. So when animated characters are repeatedly given African American accents as a way of signifying that they're lazy, uneducated or have no true goals in life, that's a pretty offensive stereotype especially when you consider that shocking levels of inequality and racism towards black people still exist in the US today.
There is plenty of research that shows that children can learn to discriminate from an early age. While parents and guardians may have more influence over their children's worldview, the media can also contribute.
thecrustisthebestpart on February 11, 2016 at 3:59 am said:
I did find your post interesting. As a mother of a young daughter who is total girl and into princesses, I have to disagree with some aspects. We fight against gender stereotyping, but we neglect to notice that many children, before they are influenced by media, society and so on tend to gravitate to their gender roles (a topic that was examined in depth in my childhood socialization class in college).
I don't mind showing Disney movies to my daughter because I do have conversations with her about what she is watching. I feel like my greater concern is the new Disney TV shows (and much of children's programming) which share the message that girls are better than boys, boys are dumb. As well as making girls who want to be girly or moms feel that that is not acceptable.
Maybe we should stop focusing on having an agenda in our children's shows and movies and having a story that can be loved by everyone. I think it's good that there are both options out there, the Disney movies that are viewed as sexist, racist, and so on, as well as the ones that promote the opposite message. Parents can choose what they want their children to watch and also how to have conversations with them about what they watch.
One of the best shows that just focuses on having a happy and good message for everyone is Sheriff Callie's Wild West. It's all anthropomorphic animals in a town striving to be nice and friendly.
But that aside, I enjoyed reading someone's perspective opposite of mine. Thank you.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I agree — some children do lean towards traditional gender roles. It reminds me of my four-year-old nephew and eight-year-old niece. My nephew loves cars and trucks, and my niece likes princesses and ballet. And their parents haven't actively encouraged it — it's simply what the children enjoy.
I also agree with you that ultimately it's up to parental guidance, and that talking about these issues is important.
I think it's the older Disney movies that tend to have more racist content. The Three Little Pigs is a prime example — the original Wolf reflected anti-Semitic propaganda and had many parallels with Nazi pamphlets.
I don't consider movies with racist stereotypes to be a good thing, but society has gotten better. That said, there is still a way to go before there is no discrimination in the world.
thecrustisthebestpart on February 12, 2016 at 1:36 pm said:
Of course older movies do. It's more than just older Disney movies, it's older everything. Watch a John Wayne or Gene Kelly movie you'll see the same things because that was the culture then. I'm sure twenty years from now we'll be saying negative things about our movies and books too, but it's the culture of the times.
I agree that we shouldn't promote racist stereotypes, but it does go back to parents. Parents should sit down and talk to their kids about what they've seen.
Thanks for your views.
That is because many of today's parents don't want the responsibility of "parenting". They want to be friends with their entitled little offspring. They rely on educators and entertainment to teach their children. Parenting is NOT an easy job. It can be taxing and frustrating at times, but it is the responsibility of the parents to raise socially aware, empathetic, kind and caring children to grow up to be those socially aware, empathetic, kind and caring adults. I've always taught my kids that the entertainment genre is delusional and real life isn't an animated cartoon. I also taught them to take this shit with a grain of salt. Yes. I was THAT mother who told it like it is.
"That is because many of today's parents don't want the responsibility of 'parenting'" — I'm not sure which point you're addressing, or whether your comment is directed to me or thecrustisthebestpart.
Anyhow, my article isn't about casting judgment on other people's parenting styles. That's up to the individual.
I went off topic. My point was basically it isn't Disney's responsibility to teach–I'm no Disney fan but it isn't their responsibility–sorry 'bout the rant!
No worries! Ah, I see what you mean.
Agreed. Times were different back then, and we have taken steps towards equality. However, "Disney's caricature of a Jewish peddler is remarkable for the way it parallels the anti-Semitic propaganda coming out of Germany in the 1930s and 1940s" — quote from this link to a discussion by Rosina Lippi-Green.
In that link, she also talks about how the use of accents in many animated cartoons reflect national/political fears over time, e.g. Japanese characters in World War II, Russian characters during the Cold War era, Middle Eastern characters today… Quite interesting!
mishalkhanblog on February 12, 2016 at 9:52 am said:
really amazing and intresting article. i m glade to see your post.
KAB on February 12, 2016 at 5:28 pm said:
I found this post interesting to read. I grew up watching Disney movies daily. My father was a part of the Disney Collectors Society before it closed. I think too many people are putting too much thought into too many things. Disney is happiness, a dream brought to life for everyone to watch and enjoy. I'd rather my children watch Disney than play video games and think they can grab a gun and go kill someone and that person will re-spawn. My favorite Disney movie is The little mermaid, I cannot count how many times I have watched it, and I am in my 30's. I will always be a Disney fan, there are not too many Disney movies I do not like. I really liked watching 20,000 leagues under the see for years, even though it is not animation, it was excellent. Disney is great, they are not doing anything wrong, and I pray they never change.
Well, there are multiple perspectives on this issue. And I'd like to say that my article isn't about bashing Disney, but I do think it is interesting to think about the ways in which accents are used to create characters. And it is questionable when there are systematic (i.e. not random coincidence) patterns of racial stereotyping in the accents that are chosen for each character.
natkhooqe on February 13, 2016 at 7:26 am said:
Indeed many things may seem innocent and harmless on the surface but that's how they creep ideas and stereotypes unknowingly into our minds. I'm sure disney movies, fairytales and even nursery rhymes can influence both children and adults in ways they may not notice. Thank you for this wonderful article which reminds us to be careful of what we watch on media, being discerning and not simply accepting what we see.
Thank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you enjoyed my article. 🙂
Yes, I think it's important not to take things at face value. That's why this kind of research is so fascinating to me: it highlights structured patterns in the media that we might struggle to see otherwise.
It wouldn't be rigorous research to draw conclusions based on just a few movies, but when you look at the whole canon of them, the patterns stand out.
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Hollee on February 17, 2016 at 4:34 pm said:
I've never really thought about this before. I think I've always assumed that because they're "princess movies," then obviously the princesses would have the most talking time. After all, it's their story, right? And while I don't think little girls are going to be analyzing or even noticing which of their favorite princesses have the most dialogue (I know I sure wasn't when I was six and dreaming of dancing through French castles), I think it's interesting and sad that Disney is creating stories about girls while minimizing their voices. It's long past time to start amplifying the voices of young girls, teaching them that their thoughts and opinions matter, and offering them platforms to safely express themselves, and I'm really hoping Disney—entertainment giant and cultural influencer that it is—will realize that. I recently saw a commercial that they released with real-life girls juxtaposed with princesses set to The Script's "Hall of Fame" to encourage girls that they can be anything, which I think is a great message and a great step in the right direction. But it's equally important to let the girls speak for themselves, and give them female role models who do as well.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a thoughtful comment.
I think the most likely explanation for the researchers' finding is that the decrease in female dialogue is an effect of larger casts. As the Washington Post article discusses, Disney casts have gotten bigger in recent decades but tend to feature more male voices.
I think your point about Disney being a cultural influencer is wise. They clearly have huge power, and it's hugely important for issues of gender, race and ethnicity (including how they portray world cultures) to be sensitively treated.
ezatyhassan on February 24, 2016 at 7:46 am said:
Reblogged this on ezatyhassan.
Frankie Banks on February 26, 2016 at 2:50 am said:
Fabulous! We are evolving, more girls today are educated than ever before. Change will happen but it is slow and we need to encourage it. There are a lot of empowering films for girls to watch but it comes down to choice and parents remembering to use it.
We're certainly going in the right direction. But I agree with you that we should encourage change, especially in cultures where girls' voices are often silenced.
It reminds me of this quote from Jane Austen's wonderful novel Persuasion: "Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands".
Cynthia Reyes on March 6, 2016 at 12:14 pm said:
Reblogged this on Cynthia Reyes and commented:
Interesting findings.
Grace @ Cultural Life on March 6, 2016 at 12:29 pm said:
Ann Moser on March 6, 2016 at 1:19 pm said:
Friday evening family night always included a Disney movie when my children were young, they watched them over and over again. As a recent first time grandma, I've been thinking about all the things I want to share with Clara; watching "children's" movies is on the list. This is a very thought provoking article. Cynthia, thank you the read which has nudged me to listen/view messaging/influences more closely, especially when they come from a sly wolf in sheep's clothing.
dmwauthor on March 6, 2016 at 3:14 pm said:
The problem as I see it is too much viewing and not enough role playing. My book of reference on this topic is The Uses of Enchantment. As adults we watch and discuss although, that said, I still engage in role playing in dance and improvisation. Reading to children leads to more engagement. Disney has always been limited by stereotypes in film.
Grace @ Cultural Life on March 7, 2016 at 6:50 pm said:
I agree, being read to is certainly something that all children benefit from.
hilarycustancegreen on March 6, 2016 at 9:58 pm said:
Very interesting analysis. This is a battle I have been fighting since before I studied psychology. Advertisers spend a lot of money making films, they wouldn't work if children were immune to subtle directions about what to like and who to look up to. Kids drink in anything that comes their way from the moment they open their eyes and if we feed them stereotypes in easy form, they will learn them double quick… sorry you have touched a nerve there. I saw Fantasia, 101 Dalmations and, I think, Snow White and they all scared me to pieces.
Yes, I think some people view Disney as this wonderful, magical thing ("the happiest place on Earth" as the theme parks say). But it's not surprising that they are driven by profit. They want movies that sell, and these movies can be a vehicle for deep-rooted cultural attitudes.
M T McGuire on March 7, 2016 at 12:49 pm said:
I've always preferred pixar… although they are owned by Disney now aren't they? And I did love Shrek it was so nice to have a character with a British accent in an American movie who wasn't the baddie!
On a more serious note, this is a fascinating article. Really, really interesting stuff. Thanks for posting
Yes, I think they are owned by Disney, but their movies seem to be better from what I hear.
British characters do tend to be the baddies in American animated movies, don't they? Either that, or we're all frightfully polite and charming. 😀
Hamlin Grange on March 7, 2016 at 1:20 pm said:
Reblogged this on DiversiPro Inc. and commented:
Some people may say the Disney Problem is a matter of unconscious bias, or even cultural blindness. However, it's more likely a lack of intercultural competence. The writers and producers of these Disney movies (some of them wonderfully powerful) may not be "bad" people but they may want to reflect on how they are interacting or navigating cultural differences.
I agree with you — I wouldn't say that the Disney writers and producers are "bad". It's probably a combination of lack of cultural knowledge, and deep-rooted categorizations in society. And not all Disney movies give other cultures a one-dimensional treatment — while researching this post, I discovered that Lilo & Stitch portrays Hawaiian culture with great sensitivity, resulting from thoughtful research by the writers and co-directors.
I agree. Disney is better than most. Thanks for writing the blog.
lostandfoundbooks on March 10, 2016 at 12:22 am said:
Interesting post Grace! You got so many comments, I hesitate to add anything. But this is something we talk about a lot in our home – in fact, my daughter hates disney movies…most of them anyway…she is very wary of anything that says girls have to behave or look a certain way, and most disney movies do fall in that trap. As for me, I think it's much more pervasive than disney – gender and race stereotyping is in all of our media…I even hated the Pixar movie Inside Out! It was touted as being a progressive, groundbreaking movie – but it was about emotions and the lead was a girl! Go figure. 🙂 I should note that I like old disney better than new disney – Mary Poppins is a gem–features a suffragette and questions capitalism too.
Grace @ Cultural Life on March 13, 2016 at 9:13 am said:
Thanks. 🙂 Oh, please don't hesitate! Everyone has a different perspective and point of view.
I was fortunate that this post was chosen to be featured on WordPress Discover; hence, the amount of comments.
I agree that we can't escape these stereotypes — they are very pervasive. Yes, Mary Poppins is a fantastic movie. It's one of my childhood favourites (when I said I didn't grow up with Disney, I was referring to the animated movies).
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Simonette Lubbe on August 2, 2016 at 7:41 am said:
I agree with what you've said. Another thing I've noticed in recent movies is that the protagonist and so called 'good characters' often use torture techniques to get information out of 'bad' characters, as if that is the right thing to do and they get away with it because they did it for a good cause. Whereas in older movies the protagonist would only get into a fight as a last defence or when all else fails. In animation movies these days it seems that the protagonist instigates the violence rather than flees from it. I am particularly referring here to 'The Secret life of Pets' where the small white dog hits one of the other characters in the face to get information from them.
Grace @ Cultural Life on August 5, 2016 at 6:17 pm said:
That's a really interesting observation. I hadn't noticed that before. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Katie's Time Travelling Kitchen on August 10, 2016 at 9:19 am said:
This is such an interesting read. I recently wrote a university essay about the musical depiction of gender and sexuality in Disney movies, focussing on Snow White and Mulan. I came to the conclusion that even though there is about 60 years between the two films (and you would therefore assume that they would have different attitudes towards these kind of issues), they generally have the same stereotypical attitudes towards gender and the characters conform to their given gender roles.
I personally am a big fan of Disney (the older films at least) but I will not hesitate to admit that they do have their problems, especially when it comes to language, race and gender. Thanks fo writing such an interesting post! 🙂
Grace @ Cultural Life on August 10, 2016 at 5:53 pm said:
Thank you! Your essay topic sounds really interesting, especially the fact that the movies are so similar even though they were 60 years apart.
I appreciate that a lot of people love Disney; I think we're often attached to things that we fondly remember from our childhoods. For me, it's Harry Potter — I grew up waiting for each book to be released and watching the movies. So I can understand that many people feel the same way about Disney. 🙂
Katie's Time Travelling Kitchen on August 10, 2016 at 6:03 pm said:
It was a really interesting essay to write.
I feel the same way about Harry Potter too! 🙂
Doug's BoomerRants on August 25, 2016 at 7:25 am said:
So… now Disney isn't politically correct. Look, I understand all the stats and credible interpretations on the true social shortcomings of Disney animations… especially the "princess" films, in regards to accents, assigning character traits that are one gender over another, and all the other diabolical stereotypes we can accuse Disney of fomenting onto our children… um, female children. Then I ask you, who then decides content? Disney is a money-making corporation that happens to earn profits within the entertainment field. Their success is brought about by catering to current social mores that appeal. If they did not do that then they'ed not make money for the investors.. who are generally people like (some of) us who buy insurance or dabble with stocks on-line. I rather doubt there is a coven of male figures who reside deep within the bowls of Cinderella's Castle dictating the theme and plots of the next Disney animation in such a way as to assure the perpetuity of social male domination.
But the interesting thing that makes my point here is when you read the various comments. Most, if not all think highly of what was written. In fact, I do too and it was an interesting take on how Disney is not as socially "pure" as many might think. But then in here one has stated they felt the same with the Potter movies, Grimm's, and Hans Christian Anderson. Everyone has a different concept of what is correct or incorrect… or what might have an undue influence on our young innocents. But, we all know since we are all highly educated here (?) that pretty much all the story classics by any of the great authors depict the times and social attitudes.. and dare I say, stereotypes, of their day. Although when we read those classics there is no audio to convey those nasty stereotypical accents.
Here's my take… everyone one of us commenting here has somehow defied the odds of being stunted in intellectual growth, or in personal gender identity, or socially crippled and stigmatized outcasts from reading Alice In Wonderland or watching a Disney animation… or having suffered the incurable heartbreak of overdosing on Minnie Mouse. Yeah, yeah, I'm a man. Personally I preferred Davy Crockett. Ooops… I better not say the type of hat he wore… I might be called a racist.
Thanks for taking the time to write a long and thoughtful comment. It's true — most of the responses I received on this post have been positive. And I agree with you — I don't think there's a group of people who are plotting to perpetuate gender and/or racial stereotypes in highly commercialized, money-making cartoons. It's just interesting how deeply embedded these stereotypes are, and I think they can be equally problematic for female *and* male children. E.g. women and girls are often portrayed and viewed as being caring and compassionate while the macho boys have to be tough and aren't allowed to show any sign of 'feminine' emotion (crying, for instance). That's going beyond Disney, of course, but I'm of the mindset that equality isn't all about women — it's good for everyone.
Your point about those attitudes reflecting the social attitudes of the time when these stories were first written is also interesting. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Perhaps it's important to point out that nature itself never guaranteed any sort of equality between the genders. The physical differences (beyond the sexual) have evolved over time to be the basis for any social development; I'm sure you recall the nurturing/childbearing roles and the hunter/gatherer roles that define our species' physical attributes and evolutionary survival. Women want equal pay for equal work.. makes sense to me completely as it pertains to our current society. But nature made man woman's protector because nature made woman physically different from man in order to perpetuate the species. As a society we spend an awful lot of time trying to fight these differences and assign them as some sort of reason for gender inequality and social bias.
Racial differences… well, again blame nature. Part of the human defense system is quickly differentiating real world threats toward family… to protect women and offspring. The first time a black man met a white man the likely reaction was… why is he different and do I need to defend myself from him.
I guess my whole point here is in a perfect world everyone is equal, but we don't live in a perfect world, thanks to Nature. Accept who we are, morally adapt to each other's differences in order to survive together.
Just an odd side note… when I was an early child in the 1950's there was a TV show called Howdy Doody. You older Boomers will remember it. My mother restricted my watching of that show "because it was too silly!". Yet she allowed me to watch The Three Stooges voraciously. Made no sense to me… and still doesn't. Obviously mother had something picking inside her brain. 🙂
valeriemclean1919 on September 26, 2016 at 7:16 pm said:
You were correct in saying that this was more critical. This is a very well-written post, a good mix of many representation problems that have been pointed out in Disney films. That said– they are trying to get better. Some attempts may be misguided, but "Sleeping Beauty" is certainly not "Tangled". As with any form of media, we have to hope and trust that kids get the intended message of the film, as opposed to any unintended cultural biases. Kids are smarter than most people give them credit for, and Disney knew that.
One thing I'll say about the gender-line ratio: while Snow White might have had a 50/50 ratio in terms of lines, it only had 2 female characters. Out of the 13 major and minor characters, only 15% of the characters were female. Compare that to Hercules, which has 19 major and minor characters and 11 of those are female (this is including the Muses and the Fates). That's a more even 58% for casting, even if the line distribution doesn't fall along those lines. And as someone else mentioned, what the lines are are also important. Yes, it varies from movie to movie, and we should move away from "male as default", but it's shades of gray. Overall, I think there's been improvement over the course of the studio's lifetime.
valeriedavies on February 25, 2017 at 4:18 am said:
I'm late to this discussion, and found both your blog and the comments fascinating. I seem to be the odd one out… as I was saying to my partner last night in a discussion about Disney (co-incidence) – I always hated Disney.. Found the animation crude and boring, and the stories over-simplified in many ways… except for Snow-White – which I saw when I was five. When the Wicked Stepmother appeared on the screen, I gave a piercing shriek and rushed out of the cinema before anyone could stop me. I was found three hours later at the police station !
I was suggesting to my partner that one reason that even as a child I found Disney so crude, was that I had grown up on my grandmother's copies of Morte D'arthur, Aesop's Fables, and so on, my reading matter from six onwards, when during the war few, if any children's books were being printed in England. Her books were illustrated with exquisite Pre-Raphaelite and art nouveau pictures, borders and initials… so my taste was already formed in that sense. The Disney films had no subltety, or beauty for me… no textures of fabrics, hair, leaves on trees etc…colours were crude and too bright… Even boring Fantasia, – which my new parents raved about when I was twelve – I couldn't understand why they should think the beautiful music was suited to the crude animation… and as for Mickey Mouse et al.. spare me !!!!!
Having said all this, we're watching 'Saving Mr Banks' tonight on our computer !!!!
Goodness, your parents must have been so worried!
I imagine that Disney must have seemed very crude after the books you grew up with.
Ah, Mary Poppins: that is one Disney production that I enjoyed as a child. I also liked the 1960s Disney version of Winnie the Pooh, and I got that on DVD last year to watch with my nieces and nephew.
Did you enjoy Saving Mr Banks? I thought it was very well done. Emma Thompson is a wonderful actress!
valeriedavies on February 25, 2017 at 9:14 pm said:
Hello Grace – well yes, my father was away in the war, –
and my mother until she ran away was comparatively worried !!!
No, couldn't bring myself to subject my children – or me – to Julie Andrews cut glass voice, and Dick van Dyke's fake cockney/ irish/ aussie type accent !!!!
Yes, loved Saving Mr Banks. I always love Tom Hanks ( Sully) and yes, Emma Thompson was brilliant especially when you listened to the tape-recordings played with the credits of the unloveable P.L .Travers!!!!
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The diagnostic profile analyses the barriers to learning thatare directly or indirectly the outcome of impaired learning and relationships in the child's earliest years.
Perhaps the Profile's most important outcome is to enhance staff's confidence, either in a nurture group or a classroom setting, as they learn that there are tangible reasons for the child's difficulties.
The Boxall Profile, the Boxall Profile for Young People and the Boxall Online are invaluable assessment tools for any staff working with children from early years through to the end of secondary education. They provide a framework for systematic assessment of those who may be struggling with a range of social, emotional and behavioural issues.


Large 8vo., contemporary vellum binding with contemporary handwritten labeling to spine, pp. viii, 260, wood-engraved decorated initials, wood-engraved header illustration depicting a city during an earthquake. Some browning, minor foxing to pages, lacking copper-engraved frontispiece; otherwise a very good copy. V. scarce. The book contains a detailed relation of the earthquakes that affected Rome on the evening of 14th January and the morning of 2nd February 1703, two of a series of quakes that occurred across the central Apennine region of Italy over the course of nineteen days. While the epicenters of these quakes were between L'Aquila and Norcia, they were still felt in Rome; this book describes the damage caused by the quakes and the preventative and commemorative processions and holy rituals put on by the church afterwards. Text in Italian.


Home Business What Does MACD Oscillator Analysis predict about Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX)?
What Does MACD Oscillator Analysis predict about Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX)?
The stochastic oscillator indicator is the important indicator to compare the security price over a certain period of time. The stochastic %K of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) for the period of 9-Day stands at 53.22% while the stochastic %D for the same period stands at 59.36%.
The 7-Day Average Directional Index ADX (also known as Trend Strength Indicator) of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) signals "Buy" while other important signals like the 20-Day Moving Average Vs. Price signals "Buy".
Another important signal of trend and momentum of a security is 20-50 Day MACD Oscillator or Moving Average Convergence Divergence signals "Buy" for Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) while 20-100 Day MACD Oscillator indicates "Buy".
Bollinger band is a volatility indicator of a certain security, currently Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX)'s 20-Day Bollinger Band indicates "Hold".
Zonagen Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of products for the human reproductive system, including sexual dysfunction, vaccine adjuvants, products for fertility and female health as well as urological applications, specifically prostate cancer. Zonagen's products to treat sexual dysfunction all incorporate phentolaminemesylate, an alpha-adrenergic blocker, as the active agent. Zonagen's lead product, VASOMAX(R), is a rapidly disintegrating oral formulation of phentolamine for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.
On the last trading day, Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) opened the session at $0.65 and after going down -10.14% closed at $0.58. The stock lost -0.07 points in the last trade.
Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX)'s stock fluctuated in the range of $0.550 and $0.650 during the previous active session. Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) traded with the volume of 1.19 Million with average volume of 1.11 Million. The stock has HIGH volatility on the last trading session.
Currently the Beta for the company remains at 0.43 while ATR (Average True Range) and RSI (Relative Strength Index) are at 0.09 and 64.49 respectively.
Currently the Insider Ownership of the shares of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) is at 0.2% and the shares outstanding are 41.9 Million.
Dividend yield of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) stands at 0% whereas Price to Earnings P/E ratio stands at 0 while Forward P/E shows the value of 0.
The PEG ratio (Price to Earning to Growth) emits the value of 0. The Price to Sale P/S and Price to Book P/B shows the value of 0 and 0 respectively. While Price to Cash P/C and Price to Free Cash Flow P/FCF stands at 6.39 and 0 correspondingly.
The Quick Ratio of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) stands at 1.8 while the Current Ratio depicts the value of 1.8.
Return on Assets ROA of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) is at -212.1% whereas, Return on Equity ROE and Return of Investment ROI of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) stand at -412.4% and 0% respectively.
The stock performance of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) on the basis of 5 day trade show the jump of 9.36% whereas, the monthly performance of the stock shows increase of 75.64%.
The quarterly performance of the stock remained in green zone with the value of 50.55% while six month performance of the shares of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) remained bearish with the count of -51.7%.
The yearly and YTD performance of Repros Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RPRX) remained down at -71.02% and -56.09% respectively.


16"-17.9"Not CompatibleUnder 10"Up to 11.9"Up to 13.9"Up to 15.9"Up to 16.9"Up to 17.9"Up to 19.9"Up to 25"
Backpacks make it easier for students, commuters, shoppers and travelers to carry what they need. Whether you want a backpack of a specific color or design, made from a certain type of material or able to hold whatever items you have to carry around with you, Staples lets you find just the right one.
You can narrow your backpack choice by deciding which feature is more important to you. If you're a student, perhaps you want a school backpack that makes a fashion statement in a bold, bright color or pattern. If you're a commuter or traveler, you might want a backpack that is water resistant and gives you plenty of secure inner compartments for important documents. If you're a hiker, you'll want a lightweight, durable backpack that has enough pockets and hooks to carry everything for braving the elements.
Most backpacks feature densely woven polyester, a synthetic UV and mildew-resistant and water-repellent fabric that is ideal for protecting supplies and gear. Other types of packs like Jansport backpacks consist of 100 percent cotton canvas, offering similar protection but with better wear characteristics.
Backpacks also come in densely woven nylon, a tough, lightweight material with high tensile strength, as well as ripstop nylon, a reinforced weave that is tear and rip resistant. Backpacks come in stylish fabrics, such as leather, faux leather and suede, that blend fashion with protective qualities. Some high-end backpack material includes waxed cotton twill, a waterproof, breathable and extremely durable marine-gauge fabric, and polyester dobby and jacquard, which are moisture-resistant textured weaves.
You can find backpacks in various shades of color, including orange, pink, purple, blue, green and yellow. Some backpacks are multicolor, while others offer subdued hues such as black, gray and brown. Perhaps you want a backpack with a more distinctive appearance. Choose from an array of patterns that include geometric shapes, polka dots, plaid, paisley, floral or camo. Backpack designs also feature unique artwork and animal prints.
What Makes a Backpack Comfortable?
High Sierra Backpacks offer more than just durability and room. Many backpacks come with shock-absorbing shoulder straps or cross straps for carrying comfort. Some have padded backs. Others include D-ring and buckle strapping connections and side compression straps to give you a snug, secure fit for comfortable wear, especially when you must walk long distances. Some backpacks have extra pockets and components for carrying water bottles or even a skateboard, while some have extendable pull handles and wheels so you can roll your backpack over long concourses. Multiple compartments and pockets, both inner and outer, house other important items.
Can You Fit Your Laptop in a Backpack?
Many of today's school backpacks are designed specifically to carry laptops, with bumpered and reinforced corners and textured or knobbed compartment weaves to protect laptops against impact and external elements. Laptop backpack compartments come in sizes that fit almost any screen, while many business and student backpacks also have protective inner compartments for safeguarding tablets.


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HOME TV COUNTERPART
Counterpart is an American science fiction thriller television series created by Justin Marks on the premium cable network Starz. It has been picked up for two 10-episode seasons. The first episode was directed by Morten Tyldum. The premiere episode first aired on December 10, 2017. It stars Academy Award–winning actor J. K. Simmons in a dual role. In February 2018, Starz announced that production had begun in Berlin on the second season. The 10-episode second season premiered on December 9, 2018.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There's LOTS of cosmic energies affecting us right now. The Sun, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Neptune are all in Water signs – a cycle where intuition and creativity and emotional expressions are on the front burner. There is harmony between these celestial bodies – all being in the same element – creating an atmosphere of nurturing – taking steps to care for our emotional needs, as well as our personal spaces, and of our beleaguered and beloved Planet Earth. Those of you who are Water Signs – Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces – or have significant planets in Water – are "in your element!" Here are some of the details.
Today is the longest day of the year. The Summer Solstice is celebrated by Indigenous peoples all over the world. This is the time for activity and change and awakening to embrace this healing light. It's time to celebrate the Earth and all living things upon it. In Canada, National Aboriginal Day is celebrated on the Solstice, acknowledging and respecting and reconciling with the First Peoples.
During the Summer Solstice, the Sun will move into the Sign of Cancer and on June 23, the Moon in Capricorn will be exactly opposite the Sun – time of the Full Moon. This also happens to be the largest Full Moon of 2013. We are moving into a gentler time as the Sun in Cancer will bring in a focus for nurturing, enjoying home and moving more into heart-centered energy. During the Full Moon situations may arise that bring issues to a crisis point. There may be emotional eruptions as challenges may come to a head. It's good to remember to take a few deep breaths before responding to another, rather that reacting quickly and say things we may regret later.
Jupiter spends one year in each sign of the Zodiac and on June 27, it will move into the Sign of Cancer and be there until July 17, 2014. Jupiter has been in the mental Sign of Gemini this past year and has stimulated much communication, spreading of ideas, and an expansion of global awareness. In Cancer, Jupiter will emphasize feeling rather than mental activities. There will be more involvement with women's issues, with environmental concerns, with community, children, expression of emotions and so on.
Mercury, the Planet of communication, made a big shift on June 1, moving from the mental energy of Gemini into the emotional energy of Cancer. We're now apt to think more with our right intuitive brains rather than the more rational left side. It's important to remember to not take things personally if others disagree with our views or belief systems. We are spiritual Being living a human life. We are far greater than our opinions or belief systems!
Mercury will go Retrograde between June 16 and July 20, and then will begin "moving forward" again and transition into the sign of Leo on August 9. We're already in that energy cycle as many can feel the retrograde energy several days before and after its cycle. It's important to back up our computer files, double-check on things like driving directions, plane schedules etc.
Venus in Cancer brings in receptive feminine energy – and a desire for security. We may find ourselves wanting to nurture others and take the time to socialize, relax with friends, have a meal together, etc. It's also a good time to begin or continue a creative project as Venus in Cancer is in harmony with Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces – creating a Grand Trine (triangle) in water. This combination of creative energies is wonderful for dreaming, visioning and with Saturn in the mix, it's also an excellent time to get things done. Venus will be in Cancer until June 28, when it will enter the fire sign of Leo – and the energy will shift again.
SATURN in SCORPIO: October 6, 2012 to September 19, 2015.
For those of us born with Planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, etc.) in the Fixed Signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, these can be trying times where we're challenged at the core of our very Being – needing to do our personal work to overcome obstacles and grow and change.
Saturn in Scorpio until January 2015, is calling on us to dig deeper into our emotional foundations and explore relationships with ourselves and with others. We can come out of this cycle much stronger and steadier.
Uranus in Aries Squaring Pluto in Capricorn – 7 cycles through to March 31, 2015.
This square continues a time of breakdown of systems – personal and global – that no longer work for us. False foundations are revealed in political, social and economic patterns. When this 90 degree angle is exact – the pressure peaks. Uranus and Pluto both move very slowly. Their effects are felt for weeks before and after the exact square. As things break apart – light enters and new solutions can and are being explored. The next exact square will occur on November 1, 2013.
With all of this energy, challenges and breakthroughs happening, you might well want an Astrological reading to assist you to understand and incorporate these cycles into your lives in a positive way – for your personal growth and well-being. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
There is still a LOT of cosmic energy affecting us at the moment with a few recent shifts. Here are some of the details.
The Sun and Moon are at the same degree of Gemini (NEW MOON) at 11:56 am EDT. They join Mars and Jupiter that are currently moving through Gemini. Mars in Gemini stimulates communication – so many of us will be actively sharing information, coming up with new ideas, e-mailing everyone we know, and find ourselves very creatively engaged. Jupiter in Gemini can help us stretch our every-day ideas into wider perspectives that can be very beneficial for us. You may find this energy to be mind-expanding and exciting. Jupiter will remain in Gemini until June 27, and then will enter the Sign of Cancer.
Just this past week, Mercury and Venus moved out of Gemini and into Cancer – bringing emotional energy to all the mental activity still going on. What can this mean? First of all we may find ourselves moving more into our intuitive right brains and thinking more in terms of association of ideas, coming up with past memories, perhaps missing some close friends and/or family members etc. If someone disagrees with us it's important to step back and not take it personally (Mercury in Cancer) – remembering that every one of us is far greater than our belief systems and opinions – we are Spiritual Beings here on our human journey.
Mercury will be in Cancer for several weeks – and during this interval it will go retrograde June 26 and go direct on July 20 and remain in Cancer until August 9 when it will enter Leo.
This square continues a time of breakdown of systems – personal and global – that no longer work for us. False foundations are revealed in political, social and economic patterns. When this 90 degree angle is exact – the pressure peaks. Uranus and Pluto both move very slowly. Their effects are felt for weeks before and after the exact square. Currently, these Planets are still in a tense relationship until approximately mid-June. As things break apart – light enters and new solutions can and are being explored.
With all of this energy, challenges and breakthroughs happening, you might well want an Astrological reading to assist you to understand and incorporate these cycles into your lives in a positive way – for your personal growth and well-being. If I can be helpful, I look forward to sharing my readings with you!


The new Livermore location serves Mountain Mike's menu of mouth-watering pizzas served on dough that's prepared in-house daily.
Mountain Mike's Pizza, a California-based family-style pizza chain, is proud to announce the opening of its new location in Livermore, California. Located in the shopping center on the corner of Catalina Road and Barcelona Street, the new Mountain Mike's restaurant makes the brand's signature experience of enjoying "Pizza the Way it Oughta Be" accessible to even more guests in the Tri-Valley. The new Livermore location serves Mountain Mike's menu of mouth-watering pizzas served on dough that's prepared in-house daily, new bone-in wings available in four delicious flavors, garlic sticks, jalapeño poppers, a robust all-you-can-eat salad bar, and a selection of both wine and beer.
Offering the welcoming atmosphere Mountain Mike's is known for, the 2,319-sq. ft. restaurant in Livermore features the brand's most updated restaurant design and a kids' activity area with arcade games and big screen TVs throughout, making it the ideal spot for sports teams, family gatherings, group fundraising events and private parties alike. There's pizza for everyone's taste buds, including fan-favorite signature combinations, like The McKinley and Pike's Peak, Mountain Mike's signature crispy, zesty Pepperoni Pizza, as well as the freedom to "create your own" pizzas. Whether its dine-in, carry-out or delivery, guests can always count on Mountain Mike's to deliver on freshness, quality and value.
The new Mountain Mike's restaurant is located at 1129 Catalina Dr., Livermore, California and can be reached by telephone at (925) 453-6903. Hours of operation are Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m.


Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars raised over $15,000 at last week's Spring Thing dinner/dance/auction. This includes $6,000 toward matching grant funds which will provide additional four-year scholarships to be awarded this June.
To all the many individuals and businesses that donated goods and services, a sincere "thank you" for your support. And to the dozens of people from the community who attended and were so generous with your bids and purchases, your support is so critical for your sons and daughters future success.


TRIPOLI, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Libya's state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Saturday that two of the four engineers kidnapped from an oil field in southern Libya earlier in the day have been released.
The kidnapping took place at 6:30 a.m. local time (0530 GMT) at the facilities of Station 186 of the Sharara oil field, NOC said in a statement.
"Four of the station staff members were initially kidnapped but two of them have been released," it added.
A military source told Xinhua that the four kidnapped engineers are three Libyans and one Romanian.
"Four engineers, including a Romanian, were abducted from Sharara oil field during routine work in the field earlier this morning," said the military source in the Joint Security Chamber of Ubari city, some 1,100 km south of the capital Tripoli.
The source, who prefers not to be identified for security reasons, said the kidnapping took place as the engineers were leaving the accommodation compound of the field toward a sub-site.
Their car was left at the site, the source added.
According to the NOC, oil wells in the surrounding area have been shut down with all workers evacuated.
"Expected losses of daily production are 160,000 barrels," it said.
Sharara is Libya's largest oil field, with a production of almost 270,000 barrels of crude oil per day, nearly one quarter of the country's daily oil output.
In November 2017, an unidentified armed group kidnapped four foreign workers, three Turks and a German, who were working at the power station in Obari, 1,100 km south of Tripoli.
The workers were released two weeks ago after tribal mediation with the kidnappers.
Following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's government, Libya has been suffering escalating violence and insecurity, as well as political division.


A group (kind) of ordinary people embarked on a 300 km journey over the Arctic tundra on dog sleds and we set out to meet them by the finish line. Just to find out – How was it?
We are standing by the finish line. One dogsled after the other pulls up as the audience cheers. A six-day adventure has come to an end, a 300 kilometres long journey over tundra, snow-covered forests and frozen rivers with a set of dogs as their engine. The loud barking of the dogs makes it initially almost hard to hear what anyone says but we soon catch up on the feeling of accomplishment – and sadness – that now overwhelms our tired travelers.
"I just feel so proud and so amazed that we were able to accomplish such unforgettable things", Lucinda says as her voice cracks. Confessing that "a tear welled up" in her eye as she realised that the journey had come to an end. And the dogs in the background make sure to let her know that they also feel sorry that it is all over.
Lucinda Klicker from the U.S. is one of the thirty participants of Fjällräven Polar 2016, a winter adventure from Signaldalen in Norway to Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland, where the participants get to steer a dogsled on their own 300 kilometres over the arctic tundra. An area with no shelter, electricity, running water or roads.
Not only do the participants get all the equipment and well-needed clothing, they are also trained in using the equipment and taught essential skills before heading out into the wilderness. And coaching from Kenth Fjellborg, one of Sweden's most skilled dog mushers, on how to guide his dogs across the Arctic tundra. See, none of the participants has previous experience of driving dog sleds or wintertime adventures.
The list of participants is a checkered one, but I'm hesitant to call anyone "ordinary". They are from all over the world, 12 countries in total, but they do seem to have a couple of things in common; their love of nature and the outdoors, as well as a quest for self-exploration. Watching all the entries (you apply by submitting a video) even I get an urge to leave my day-to-day routine and test myself against the elements. Would I push through when the going gets tough? Will they?
To get a feel for what they have experienced and endured during their journey I've watched each episode of their expedition online, published day by day. From learning how to put up a tent, do's and dont's for staying warm, getting their burners lit and their eagerness to take off on the first day. When hitting a rough patch as the weather takes a turn to the worst, when lighting a fire becomes a challenge and everything gets cold and damp – all summarized in their tired looks by the end of the day.
But there is also beauty in misery.
"It's like driving in a big white room all the time, it's more confusing to know where you are. It's harder to focus. It easier to get tired also. But you have to enjoy it and look for the different shades of white because they are beautiful." Veronika Sund from Norway explains as they solider through a snow storm on the open tundra.
The 300 km route starts at Signaldalen in Norway, across the Scandinavian mountain chain along the border of Norway and Sweden, heading towards Tavvavuoma which is one of Europe's largest areas of permafrost. From there, the trail continues over the lake Torneträsk from where they will foremost journey over frozen water, on the Torne River.
Walking on frozen water, no less driving a dogsled over it is not on everyone's bucket list. "I was absolutely petrified beforehand. Just the thought of going over a lake, yes it's ice, but in the UK the ice is THAT thin" says Toby Peach who now lists hitting the frozen lakes as one of his favorite moments.
Although there are no actual roads in this area, the Fjällräven Polar follows trails used by people living here since ancient history. This is the land of the Sámi who have lived here as nomads, following the reindeer's migratory paths for centuries.
And now, here on lake Väkkäräjärvi, by the finish line, the journey is about to end.
– I feel mostly sad, says Il Woong Lee from South Korea. I'm happy that we all made it safe to the finish line. But, you know, this is a great experience. I could go on for a few days more – but sadly this is the end. Great memories! I had the best time ever.
Following their journey from a distance, I've watched them quickly adapt to the conditions, learning to become experts in putting up tents in snow and enjoying the freedom provided by the vast wilderness. From not knowing anything about the Arctic conditions to becoming somewhat wilderness pros. And it only took 6 days. I guess everything is possible with the right knowledge, equipment and training grounds.
– I've never been dog sledding like this and never camped outside in the wintertime like this either, but it's very cosy and nice. I would totally recommend it to people to come here because it's really something beautiful and different. Maybe people are afraid that they are going to be cold or uncomfortable, but wintertime offers so many things to do, different from the summer. I think it's kind of unique what you can do here in winter, Veronyka Ginger Jelinek from the Chech Republic concludes.
As the participants of Fjällräven Polar 2016 have a hot meal, sauna and bed to look forward to, it's high time you started filming your application to the next Fjällräven Polar.