Disney Junior has announced the newest princess – Elena, the first Latina princess for the Disney company. In a country with a large Hispanic population, having a Hispanic princess makes sense for Disney.
Here are a few facts for to keep in mind:
- 40 percent of American youth ages 19 and under are children of color, but
- White prime-time characters in youth television make up a whopping 77 percent
According to the “Children Now Prime Time Diversity Report” on American television entertainment:
“Latino characters were four times as likely to portray domestic workers than were other racial groups.”
While my family may be Caucasian, my daughter has friends of all ethnicities. In thinking about this article, I wanted to get feedback from my daughter and two of her friends. I would like to introduce you to Ivy (age 13, Caucasian) and Savannah (age 13, Hispanic). Here’s my questions and their answers:
Have you ever thought about or noticed the ethnicity or races of the different princesses?
“Yeah, I have. Some days I would wonder why there are no Italian, Mexican, or Peruvian Disney princesses.” -Savannah
“Yes, I do, but it confuses me why they do that. They have to have more than just one race working on the ideas of these. So why are most white?” -Ivy
Since it has been announced that the newest princess Elena will be Latina, what does that news mean to you? What kind of princess would you like to see Disney portray?
“My personal opinion on the news of this is that Disney had finally decided to stop making movies about one race and start exploring other races like with the African-American Princess Tina and the Indian Princess Jasmine. I would like to see more movies like this. I would like to see Disney make an Italian princess sometime in my life.” -Savannah
“I am excited for this new princess. I love when they have different races. I just hope that this princess isn’t dependent on a man. I also would love to see an Indian, from India.” -Ivy
How do you feel when you see your culture portrayed in TV/film? Would you like to see your cultures portrayed in a different light?
“I feel proud that my culture has made it so far that Disney and other TV?producers think of us as people of use to them and not just people that have invaded them from across the border. I think it’s great that Disney is making a movie about a Latina Princess and that it will be fine as long as they don’t do anything to offend a lot of people by putting her to work in the fields or something.” -Savannah
“Most of the time I don’t like how they portray white people. I feel like they make them seem like they get everything they want. I wish they would show them working for their own things. I want them to show that not all of them have a great life in the beginning.” -Ivy
The story of Elena involves Sofia the First and doesn’t seem to have much to do with Hispanic/Latin culture or history. Do you wish that Disney was involving more Hispanic elements with Elena?
“I would want to see her in a more beautiful and traditional setting of Mexican culture to give little girls a sense of pride in their culture.” -Savannah
“I really wish they would have her show her own culture. I want them to show them to show her tradition. I think it would help that instead of making her in Sofia the first have her have her own movie.” -Ivy
Our society is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. Disney is a company which creates dreams. It would be nice if the company would help in creating dreams for all cultures in our world. It says a lot when a child can watch a show and relate to the character or characters because of their appearance. It sends a strong message when a Hispanic girl with poor parents can watch a show and see a Hispanic woman in a successful role or job. This tells that girl and many others that they can do that. That anything really is possible. All children in the world should know that anything is possible if they work hard enough to achieve their dream.
