Author: Rachel Edwards
A
disturbing
trend
is
emerging
out
of
Disney
movies,
especially
their
non-Pixar
cartoons:
their
desire
to
be
more
“progressive”
is
moving
them
several
steps
backward
in
their
depictions
of
men.
While
the
old
Disney
formula
is
flawed
and
based
heavily
in
gender
stereotypes,
like
Cinderella
and
her
Prince
Charming,
their
new
criticism
of
that
formula
does
nothing
more
than
shift
from
traditionalism
to
full-blown
gynocentrism.
With
films
like
Frozen
and
Maleficent
emerging,
it
is
easy
to
see
that
they
are
desperately
trying
to
pander
to
a
feminist
audience.
In
Frozen
and
Maleficent,
it
is
no
longer
romantic
love
between
men
and
women
that
breaks
the
spell.
Instead,
it
is
the
power
of
The
Sisterhood
and
the
Sacred
Feminine
that
heals
everything.
It
is
now
the
power
of
female
compassion
that
is
the
only
thing
that
can
bring
redemption.
This
idea
of
redemption
through
women
is
not
entirely
new,
either.
If
you
look
at
male
Disney
characters
of
fairly
recent
vintage,
you
begin
to
see
this
disturbing
pattern:
men
are
not
getting
their
“progressive”
reboot
at
all.
Even
in
movies
where
men
are
the
main
protagonists,
it
is
only
through
the
influence
of
a
woman
that
the
male
protagonist
is
able
to
be
fully
a
man.
It
is
almost
always
the
actions
of
a
that
bring
about
story
resolution.
For
example,
Nala
tells
Simba
to
stop
being
a
MGTOW
and
to
return
to
his
responsibilities.
The
Beast
becomes
a
gentleman
through
the
influence
of
Belle.
Tarzan
is
made
“civilized”
by
Jane’s
influence.
They
are
perpetuating
the
idea
that
men
must
be
made
whole
by
women,
but
that
women
don’t
need
men;
women
just
have
to
be
there.
When
I
mention
the
Sacred
Feminine,
I
am
referring
to
the
idea
that
women,
on
their
own,
are
the
source
of
healing,
as
if
they
have
this
sort
of
inherent
magical
quality.
It
is
an
almost
religious,
if
not
outright
religious,
treatment
of
women,
and
they
can
do
no
wrong
because
femininity
is
sacred.
They
can
destroy
entire
kingdoms
and
terrorize
people
for
years.
They
can
be
completely
toxic
to
everyone
around
them,
and
will
still
be
seen
as
being
worthy
of
praise
and
adoration.
Whereas
men
are
viewed
as
being
beasts
or
misguided
souls
that
need
contact
with
this
magical
feminine
energy
to
be
whole.
There
used
to
be
a
balance
to
that
when
male
influence
could
also
break
magic
spells
in
Disney
universes,
but
now
that
it’s
been
tossed
aside
we
are
left
with
stories
of
full-blown
gynocentrism.
I
say
that
because
in
Disney’s
two
most
recent
offerings, Frozen
and
Maleficent,
they
did
not
create
more
complex
and
relatable villains;
instead,
they
shifted
the
blame
to
men.
They
didn’t
make
the
male
villains
in
those
films
sympathetic;
they
were
basically
just
devils.
These
were
simply
films
that
explained
how
being
an
insufferable
asshole
is
okay
as
long
as
women
are
the
ones
acting
that
way.
These
films
have
removed
the
possibility
of
female
redemption
through
male
contact,
most
likely
because
feminists
feel
this
is
sexist.
But
somehow
it’s
totally
okay
for
these
people
to
make
men
these
bumbling
wanderers
that
need
a
woman’s
magical
healing
touch
to
get
their
lives
in
order.
They
have
made
it
taboo
to
make
women
villains,
but
men
are
fair
game
and
will
likely
continue
to
be
demonized
by
Disney
and
other
companies
because
no
one
can
be
bothered
to
care.
I
honestly
hope
that
Disney
moves
away
from
this
trend
and
takes
a
more
balanced
approach
to
their
depiction
of
men,
but
it’s
fairly
unlikely.
This
gynocentric
attitude,
and
cringing
at
feminist
whinging,
has
taken
too
strong
of
a
hold
on
the
company,
and
more
importantly
it
sells
out
movie
theatres.
Because
maleness
is
an
evil,
chaotic
essence
that
must
be
controlled
and
contained,
but
vaginas
are
magic.
Original Story on AVFM
These stories are from AVoiceForMen.com.
(Changing the cultural narrative)