Examining Disney Channel || Media Criticism Blog

As hard as Disney Channel may try -or may appear to try- they are still struggling to create accurate and balanced representations of gender. For the purposes of this post I will not explore too deeply the intersectionality of racial representation and gender representation on Disney Channel beyond the fact that they have instituted numerous female leads of non-white or biracial heritage, but have given them more traditionally white backgrounds, negating many of their diversity goals, by erasing a lot of people's cultural identities. I will, however, explore topics such as the implementation of more female leads, the reasoning behind it and the impact Disney Channel has had and will continue to have on gender stereotypes and representation. As “Disney Channel primarily [has] a female audience”(1), it makes sense that Disney Channel would focus on developing shows that would appeal more so to young girls than boys. That is not to say that young boys would not be interested in ...

           Upon examining the current lineup of Disney Channel shows, one would rightly conclude that there is more racial diversity than ever before, with many shows featuring biracial and/or non-white protagonists. However, one would also observe upon further examination, Disney falling back on certain racial stereotypes within those seemingly progressive, "post-racial" narratives, highlighting the true nature of Disney Channel's modern representations of race as improving but imperfect.            Over recent years, the Disney ABC Television Group (DATG), the sector of the Disney Company that directly governs Disney Channel, [has shown] its diversity interests through its implementation of the Creative Talent Development and Inclusion department.(1)          It has continued to display its interest in diversity by implementing shows such as K.C. Undercover, Stuck in The Middle, Andi Mack ...