Final answer:
Disney did control Pixar through their initial contract until Pixar became a Disney subsidiary in 2006. Pixar's representation of female characters evolved with the movie Brave in 2012, offering a female lead role for the first time, a contrast to Disney's history of female protagonists. Additionally, it's true that sharecroppers were tenant farmers who paid their rent with crops.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Disney controlled Pixar in their contract is true prior to Pixar becoming a direct part of Disney. However, it's crucial to note that Pixar became a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company in 2006. Before that, Disney and Pixar had a distribution deal where Disney had control over Pixar's films and their distribution, but Pixar was an independent company. Post-acquisition, Pixar remains a distinct entity under the larger Disney umbrella with its own creative direction, though ultimately answerable to Disney's corporate structure.
Regarding the context of female lead roles, Pixar's animated films historically lacked female protagonists until the release of Brave in 2012. Previously, female characters in Pixar films often played supporting roles, which had implications for agents of socialization, particularly for young girls seeking relatable characters. This stands in contrast to Disney's earlier adoption of films with female leads, highlighting Disney's differing approach to character development and storytelling.
As for the other question embedded within the text, regarding sharecroppers, the statement, 'Sharecroppers were tenant farmers who paid their rent with shares of their crops,' is true. Sharecropping was a common agricultural practice, particularly in the post-Civil War Southern United States, where tenant farmers would indeed pay a portion of their crop as rent to the landowners.