“ZOOTOPIA” AND MINORITIES: AN ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN LABOR POLICIES AND THE CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SEVENTH ART

Abstract

The 21st-century job market often functions as a space for the reproduction of social and symbolic hierarchies, making it difficult for vulnerable groups—such as women, black people, and individuals with disabilities, among others—to access and remain in positions of prestige and leadership. This structural inequality is sustained by cultural and institutional stigmas that reinforce perceptions of the fragility and incapacity of these groups. This study analyzes the film Zootopia (2016), by Walt Disney Animation Studios, as a metaphor for these dynamics of exclusion and inequality in the corporate environment. In the narrative, society is hierarchized between prey and predators: prey are considered fragile and unfit to exercise power, while predators are seen as naturally superior and capable of command. The protagonist, Judy Hopps, breaks with this paradigm by seeking to join the police force, traditionally composed of predators, challenging social expectations. The research problem consists of investigating how the metaphors in Zootopia reflect situations of exclusion and inclusion in the labor market, especially with regard to vulnerable groups. The objective is to analyze how the film symbolically represents such processes. The methodology is qualitative, with discourse analysis and an interdisciplinary approach, mobilizing contributions from Sociology, Law and Critical Theory to interpret the narrative and symbolic elements. It is concluded that Judy Hopps' trajectory highlights the potential for transformation and rupture with exclusionary paradigms, reinforcing that true inclusion requires the redefinition of social and institutional structures.