The Social Construction of Gender Roles in Brave (2012)
Keywords:
Brave (2012), femininity, gender socialization, gender rolesAbstract
This study examines the representation of gender roles in the animated film Brave (2012) by applying Ann Oakley’s theory of gender as a social construction. The analysis focuses on how femininity is constructed, regulated, and challenged through the relationship between the main character, Merida, and her mother, Queen Elinor. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the study analyzes selected scenes, dialogues, and visual representations that depict processes of gender socialization, behavioral discipline, marriage expectations, and female resistance. The findings demonstrate that Brave portrays gender roles as socially constructed through family authority, royal traditions, and everyday practices that emphasize obedience, emotional restraint, and conformity to conventional ideals of femininity. Simultaneously, the film presents resistance to these norms through Merida’s rejection of arranged marriage, restrictive feminine behavior, and imposed standards of perfection. This study concludes that Brave (2012) functions as a cultural text that reveals the social construction of gender within family and social institutions, while also offering a critique of traditional gender roles by foregrounding female agency and autonomy.
References
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Oakley, A. (1972). Sex, gender and society. Temple Smith.
Pixar Animation Studios. (2012). Brave [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.
Putri, M. O., & Prastiwi, Y. (2025). Challenging gender norms: The representation of Princess Merida in Brave. Scripta: English Department Journal, 12(2), 1–10.
Yuliasari, R., Virtianti, R., & Sari, F. P. (2024). Gender roles and cultural expectations: A comparative study of Mulan and Indonesian society. Jurnal Pujangga, 10(2), 85–96.
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