I am
grateful for the increasingly positive portrayals of motherhood in mainstream
media, but not when it comes at the expense of mocking fatherhood. As a true
feminist, I believe in equality of respect for both genders in whatever role
they choose to take on. "Brave" (dir. Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman,
2012), although it holds an uplifting message about mother-daughter relations,
insults fathers with its one-dimensional dad.
"Brave" follows the story of Merida, a Scottish
princess with a pushy mother. Her mother, Elinor, encourages her to choose a
suitor, but Merida, feeling unready, finds a witch and asks for a spell to
change her mom. The potion ends up turning her mother into a bear and it is
only through reconciliation that the magic can be undone.
At the beginning of the film, typical gender roles and
stereotypes exist. When Merida's father gives her a bow and arrow for her
birthday, the mother is mortified and repeats later that weapons aren't proper
for a lady to possess. Elinor teaches her that princesses must be lady-like, and
the ultimate goal is to become a queen and prepare to wed a king. Writing under
the assumption of LDS doctrine that families are essential to God's plans, I
also believe this is our ultimate goal, but a family consists of a husband and
wife working together to care for children.
Unfortunately, being a nurturing father is not seen as
honorably masculine. Masculinity is characterized by aggression and independence.
And nowadays many media portrayals characterize men and fathers as useless and
incompetent. "Brave" limits men to this, too. First, when the other
tribes arrive, they fight about their greatness. King Fergus laughs, and it is
not settled until Elinor interrupts and brings order. The tribes fight again
when the queen is missing and has not come to give a decision for the
betrothal. The king involves himself in the mess and Merida saves the day this
time. Finally, as the tribes fight the Mor'du, it is only the mother as a bear
that is able to defeat him. Merida and Elinor never need Fergus. The family
does not come together to work as a team. This sends a message to men that they
are unnecessary and incapable within a family. Viewing themselves as pointless
within family life, men avoid preparing for a family and focus on acquiring
attributes other than nurturing. The times that Elinor and Fergus are together,
their parenting styles conflict and there is continual discord. Can’t parents
work together in unity? Don’t we need some good examples for children to see?
Although “Brave” limits the portrayal of fatherhood, it
does redeem itself by showing the importance of motherhood. It expands
motherhood beyond homemaking by placing Elinor in a position of power where her
influence is significant, but the film also teaches the significance of her
role as a mother with an emphasis on the effect of loving, listening, and
understanding within that relationship. It also calls children to do the same.
Not all responsibility is on the parent to create a harmonious home. Merida has
to humble herself and appreciate her mother before the curse is lifted.
Children can learn from Queen Elinor and Princess Merida’s
examples to be patient and full of love, but they are limited to seeing men as
aggressive idiots because of King Fergus’ example. These portrayals hinder an
understanding of healthy family relationships and an ability to see fatherhood
as an important part of masculinity.
Additional viewing: One of my favorite films,
"Waitress," does the same thing. The men are lustful and abusive.
Kerri Russell's character progresses more without them. It is an important
story about a woman surviving and overcoming harmful relationships, and it is
an important representation of a different family dynamic, but does good
fathering have to be sacrificed for strong mothers?
The Importance of Dad's: Fatherhood--Our Eternal Destiny
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