Aladdin Stereotypes

We live in a diverse cultural world where it is hard to understand the cultural beliefs that each culture has. It is even harder for the younger generation to identify with their cultural norms, beliefs and practices since they have been brought up in an environment that is devoid of these cultural practices and beliefs. These young children are left to believe in what they see on TV advertisement or read in books or even watch in movies. The aim of this paper is to explain the cultural norms, stereotypes and expectation that are portrayed to the young generation.

Research showed that children by the age of sixteen, have spent more time and energy watching the TV than going to school. (Levine & Munsch, 2011). Television is perhaps the most significant form of media in shaping ideas of culture. The bias and stereotypes behaviors and attitudes about a culture that television portrays in films and advertisement affect the children perception. Research has shown that pre-school children spend an average of thirty hours per week watching television. Therefore, it is not surprising that children gain particular perception and ideas from this television experience concerning different cultures (Levine & Munsch , 2011).

Aladdin, one of many Walt Disney Productions is an animated musical film produced in 1992.

Aladdin is a popular movie to many children between the ages of 8- 12. The story is about an Arab poor boy who, lives with his single mom in a big town. The boy has no education and survives from stealing. One day he meets this beautiful girl, Jasmine, daughter of the Sultan. Aladdin pretends to be a prince for the princess to like him. The story also includes a magic lamp that Aladdin found. The lamp is home to a magical genie that grants three wishes to the owner (Gool& Thrasher,

1992).

The film has several stereotypes about the Arabs. It depicts them as erotic, ignorant and barbaric. Jasmine and all other females in the movies dress in real revealing clothes and this portrays the women in this culture as sexual and erotic. It is also clear that the film tries to show that nonwhite women are animalistic and sexual; this is not only sexist but racist. The men in the Arab culture are seen as chauvinistic and do not give the women freedom. The women are confined to do house chores (King, 2010).

The characters in the film are illustrated as backward minded and ignorant. Jasmine father does not believe Jasmine, though educated can take care of herself. He thinks that his daughter should find a man to take care of her (Gool, 1992). It shows that women in this culture are weak, and they depend on men for their survival. Most of the men in the film are depicted as swindlers and crooks, this show that the men in this culture are lazy and unwilling to earn an honest pay (King, 2010).

In conclusion, there is very little truth in how the film portrays the Arabian culture. Children who watch the films are at an age where they cannot differentiate fiction from reality. It is thus the parents’ responsibility to educate their children on the various stereotypes that are depicted in the films. It is also important to monitor what the children watch to ensure positive social and mental development.