In the movie Brave, Merida is a Scottish princess who’s only dream is to be free of her life as royalty and to pursue her archery. However, her strict mother prohibits her from anything other than what a princess, or even a woman at that, “should be”. One of the sideplots in the movie involves Merida’s marriage to one of the three lord’s sons. Had she not spoken up later in the movie, she would have been married off to a clan heir only to strengthen the kingdom’s

power. It depicts how throughout history, women have been treated poorly only for the benefit of political connections.

Mind how I explicitly stated loquacious—talkative, actively serving as a euphemism for the fact that women are not credited to be intelligent or noetic in any way or form, but rather deduced to a quality that undermines their competence.

Though the project failed miserably, she still hells the people of the city by reminding them of who they truly are and free them from torment, giving them a speech and a reason to keep going and to become their true selves.

To me, she reminds me that if I am resilient enough, I could become the best I can be.

A core point of Yuka’s character is that her personality isn’t boiled down to her gender. She is a complex character that represents the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community today. Despite the prejudice she experienced, it doesn’t steer her away from expressing herself the way she does. She is not a ‘feminine man’ or ‘crossdresser’, instead, she is a character that still strives to live freely as her own person.

I'm as tough as the crust of the Earth is…

“pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop.”

- Luisa Madrigal

Always strong, reliable, and unshakeable. At first glance, Luisa from the Disney movie “Encanto” is shown as the epitome of physical strength and resilience, with the power to effortlessly carry heavy loads of objects and protect her family and village from harm. However, this gift of strength soon becomes a burden to carry, forcing her to lift the weight of pressures and expectations on her shoulders. As one of the eldest in her family, Luisa feels the pressure to maintain her superhuman abilities while supporting everyone around her, especially as the village relies on her for protection and assistance. The constant demand for her to “put on a brave face” and suppress her own emotions takes a toll on her mental and emotional well-being, which echoes the challenges faced by many women who are expected to prioritize others over themselves. This gender representation which imposes the pressures rooted in the standards and responsibilities (domestic and career) society created for women lead them to conformity just to avoid discrimination and prejudice.

Image Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/gx1GmBvCXTAwJCCPA

Cher from the movie “Clueless” was often misjudged as a shallow, materialistic girl obsessed with malls and fashion despite her intelligence, resourcefulness, and  strong sense of social responsibility throughout the film. The movie itself also portrayed the social pressures regarding female activity, like when some girls were praised for being virgins while others were shamed for it.

“Girl Just Wanna Have Fun” is a song that is usually listened to by the older generation. The lyrics of the song appear to be quite simple and easy to follow, but if we delve deeper and establish a wider interest in this song, the significance of its message gradually unravels as it tackles an issue that remains extremely relevant. Cyndi Lauper intentionally created a song that depicts the gender stereotypes and inequalities women experience daily. Through her music, she successfully demonstrated, in a more positive and engaging manner, the importance of gender equality—normalizing such attitudes and behaviors of women.