Is Disney Ageist?
A study conducted by Brigham Young University revealed that a staggering 22% of Disney villains are either 55 years old or older. Moreover, Disney generally portrays about 42% of its older characters negatively. As a result, these movies have distorted many children's views of older people by reinforcing stereotypes.
However, that is not to say that all of Disney's older characters are bad people. Take Up, for example. The hero of that film is an older man! This raises questions about how the entertainment industry can perpetuate ageist stereotypes and the importance of portraying older characters in a more diverse and nuanced manner to combat these stereotypes.
