Disney
Cast Members Costumes
This is my opinion on a news article I saw today. I have no
problem with people of faith worshiping as they see fit and I agree that
businesses should make accommodations as they can to
respect people’s faith. Still I believe there is a limit to the accommodations
they should be required to make.
As you walk around Disney, no matter where you are you are
walking through a “stage production”. From the set (buildings/rides) to the set
décor everything is designed to pull you into the feel of “show”. If you are
walking down Main Street you expect to see things from the turn of last
century. Even the costumes the Cast Members wear fit into the feel. For this
reason the guest areas of the resorts are called “On Stage”. The hotels and restaurants
of the Disney resorts also are “On Stage”
Just like an actor in a play the Cast Members wear costumes.
They are not uniforms or work clothes they are costumes that make them fit into
the play that is the Disney Resort experience. An actor in a play would not
tell the director or costumer, “I must wear a symbol of my faith and you must
make accommodations.” Now if the symbol is small and can be kept under the
costume then fine, if it is visible and not in the character the actor is
playing they cannot wear it. The actor has the choice to then reject the part
or not wear the symbol of their faith.
Disney has a strict dress code
for Cast Members, especially those on that work “on stage”. No necklaces in
view, especially if they have symbols of faith, such as a Cross or Star of
David. Watches must fit into the rules as well. Plain or Disney only with no
other design.
Imane Boudlal had been working
at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel restaurant, Storytellers hotel without
wearing a hijab for some time before she came to the conclusion that she should
be allowed to wear it. Disney management told her they would be glad to find a
job off stage where she could wear her hijab with no problems or she could put
a hat on top of it. I believe the hat makes her look like she has her faith and
fits into the time period/theme of the Storytellers.
Imane Boudlal feels that Disney
is being unfair to her and her Muslim faith. She feels they do not want her to
“look Muslim”. Well I will agree. Disney does not want her to look Muslim,
Christian, Sikh or Jewish. Disney wants all Cast Members to look the part they
are hired to play. Imane Boudlal was hired to play a hostess at an early
California Western themed restaurant. Her hijab takes away from the feel and as
a guest I would feel it takes away from the experience. Under the
hat it fits and does not distract.
If Christians cannot wear a Cross or Rosary and Orthodox Jews
cannot wear their Yeshivish clothing or even a Start of David visible then why
should Disney be forced to allow a Muslim to wear their hijab? Once again this
is Political Correctness going too far. It is also unfair to the people of
other faiths that would love to wear symbols of their faith but out of respect
for the rules and understanding that working at Disney is working on stage they
do not.
What
about the guests? I know if I’m watching a play about the early American West I
don’t wish to see someone in modern clothing. It is not in character. This is
the main reason for the no religious symbols on Cast Members.
Disney
has guests of many faiths, some of them maybe offended by seeing a symbol of a
differing faith on a Cast Member. This is another of the reasons for the rule
of no religious symbols on Cast Members. People go to the parks/resorts to get
away from things, including religious pressure.
Imane
was offered a compromise. She was given the choice to wear a hat over her hijab
or work backstage. I feel the offering to allow her to wear the hat was going
way beyond what Disney would have done for someone of another faith. She chose
to not accept the compromise and that is her choice. She can go work at a
regular restaurant that would allow her to wear her hijab without restriction.
I’m sure if her work ethic was good and her dedication to her job matched her
dedication to her faith she would have no problem finding a good job. In fact
I’m sure she could find a job that pays more than Disney does.
Picture from LATimes.com
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