The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target
Princess Merida, the “tomboy” princess in Disney/Pixar’s Brave, won praise for escaping the strictures of femininity and maternal demands for feminine propriety. In addition to her overt defiance of gender roles and demand for agency, Merida also enacts hegemonic masculinity by mocking her suitors d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/3/83 |
| _version_ | 1797557839682600960 |
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| author | Lauren Dundes |
| author_facet | Lauren Dundes |
| author_sort | Lauren Dundes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Princess Merida, the “tomboy” princess in Disney/Pixar’s Brave, won praise for escaping the strictures of femininity and maternal demands for feminine propriety. In addition to her overt defiance of gender roles and demand for agency, Merida also enacts hegemonic masculinity by mocking her suitors during an archery contest in which she is the prize. The ridicule is the prelude to her dramatic, winning bullseye that feminizes the men, in a scene rich in symbolism about gender and power. In enacting the final phase of the tomboy paradigm, however, Merida reverses her trajectory as her rebellion against femininity ebbs. She then resolves conflict by displaying vulnerability rather than performing brave deeds. This marked shift to a more traditional gender role raises questions about her stature as a model of autonomy able to withstand the pressure to conform. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:21:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e86a81640a88446985ee8d179f31ff3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:21:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-e86a81640a88446985ee8d179f31ff3e2023-11-20T10:19:52ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872020-08-01938310.3390/h9030083The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off TargetLauren Dundes0Department of Sociology, McDaniel College, Westminster, MD 21157, USAPrincess Merida, the “tomboy” princess in Disney/Pixar’s Brave, won praise for escaping the strictures of femininity and maternal demands for feminine propriety. In addition to her overt defiance of gender roles and demand for agency, Merida also enacts hegemonic masculinity by mocking her suitors during an archery contest in which she is the prize. The ridicule is the prelude to her dramatic, winning bullseye that feminizes the men, in a scene rich in symbolism about gender and power. In enacting the final phase of the tomboy paradigm, however, Merida reverses her trajectory as her rebellion against femininity ebbs. She then resolves conflict by displaying vulnerability rather than performing brave deeds. This marked shift to a more traditional gender role raises questions about her stature as a model of autonomy able to withstand the pressure to conform.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/3/83Disney princessgender stereotypeshegemonic masculinitygender rolesarcherybullseye |
| spellingShingle | Lauren Dundes The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target Humanities Disney princess gender stereotypes hegemonic masculinity gender roles archery bullseye |
| title | The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target |
| title_full | The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target |
| title_fullStr | The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target |
| title_short | The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target |
| title_sort | upshot on princess merida in disney pixar s i brave i why the tomboy trajectory is off target |
| topic | Disney princess gender stereotypes hegemonic masculinity gender roles archery bullseye |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/3/83 |
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