The Upshot on Princess Merida in Disney/Pixar’s <i>Brave:</i> Why the Tomboy Trajectory Is Off Target

• Main Author: Lauren Dundes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Humanities
• Subjects: disney princess; gender stereotypes; hegemonic masculinity; gender roles; archery; bullseye
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/3/83

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.