Time to Boycott Disney?

Call me a prude, but as a parent I’m wondering if Disney hasn’t lost its way. I didn't watch the recent Teen Choice Awards, but it's been well publicized (see the attached photo) that the girl behind Disney’s Hannah Montana performed what some have referred to as a “pole dance” on national TV. To be fair, 16 year old Miley Cyrus’ performance was likely more tame than the image those words may conjure. Nonetheless as the anointed role model to a generation of tween girls it concerns me just a bit that Disney’s flagship TV product (albeit sans Hannah’s blond wig and aw shucks attitude) is sending a message I’d rather not have my daughter receive.

Sure Disney has always had a bit of a dark side. In countless animated films they killed off the protagonist’s mother or father (or both) in the opening scenes. Still, in the halcyon days of my distant youth it was easy to know which characters to root for. It clearly was not the puppy pelt wearing villainess or the poisoned produce pushing Queen. The dark, negative characters were always balanced by positive, virtuous role models who prevailed in the end. Sure, Disney is a global, for-profit corporation with shareholders to whom it must answer. But it also has an implied contract with the parents of the world. Our responsibility as parents to censor our children’s viewing notwithstanding, when we pop in the latest Disney DVD or turn on the Disney Channel we expect wholesome fare.

Now I understand Miley Cyrus is a real person, not the character she plays on Disney, and as such she (Ms. Cyrus) may make choices professionally and personally that some might find inappropriate for a 16 year old. I bear her no ill will. Her alter ego Hannah Montana has to my knowledge never pole danced on the Disney Channel. And while I’d like to think Disney might police the off air antics of its on air talent, that is probably naive. Controversy generates publicity, aka: free advertising, so we really can’t expect them to be motivated to reign in their star. So, it’s down to us as consumers to do something. If the Disney Channel’s ratings were to decline due to decreased viewership, and if parents were to boycott the products advertised during Hannah Montana, the aforementioned shareholders might feel the pain.

Where could we as consumers start? My wife would kill me if I suggested boycotting her beloved Disney World, so I have an alternative. As you may know, Wal-Mart and Disney Consumer Products partnered to sell Hannah Montana items in their so called "Hannah Montana Shops". I read they are part of 700+ Wal-Mart stores across the U.S. and sell a variety of items like purses, bedding, cosmetics and video games. Due to allegedly unfair labor practices Wal-Mart’s reputation is already suspect at best. Perhaps Wal-Mart should reconsider which role-models they promote to our youth. We can vote our dissatisfaction buy taking our business elsewhere. Money talks. While I love a bargain as much as the next person, at the very least please, if you must shop at Wal-Mart, try to refrain from purchasing the Miley Cyrus pole dancing action figure, okay?

So, what do you think... am I just a prudish old fogy or a validly concerned parent... or both?