Stereotypes

 Many scholars believe that one of the most consistently stereotyped groups today is Arabs. The “stories” the mass media tell about Arabs seem to consistently dehumanize and vilify the Arab community.

In society we stereotype Arabs as

• terrorists
• people who own gas stations
• wear a turban on their head
• came from the desert area, rode on a camel and have many wives
• don't speak well English (which is true, in a lot of cases)

And in the movie "Aladdin" some of these stereotypes are shown along with others, for example; exotic-looking women, villains, and bestial.

Princess Jasmine is shown with tan skin, long flowing hair, a tiny waist, decent bust line, and showing nice flat stomach. She becomes a sex symbol, which leads to the idea other "middle east" women can be the same way, even if hidden under wraps and scarves.

The idea of Arabs being villains is portrayed by Jafar. He comes off as evil and adds to the idea of men of this race being terrorists and wanting to destroy.

The idea of Arabs being bestial; pertaining to, or having the form of a beast and without reason or intelligence; brutal; inhuman, is shown in Jafar's guard when he is after Aladdin.

We don't like to admit we have these stereotype but we do. And with it being represented in children's movies they get this schema of how Arabs can be. It puts a negative outlook on that race. But it is constant in many movies and has kept continuing in society for years. It's not fair to them but it has stuck and I don't know if it will ever go away, especially with recent events of Septemeber 11th, Saddam Hussein, and the continuous search for Bin Laden.