Mayim Bialik Is Not The First To Question The Feminism Of ‘Frozen’
Mayim Bialik’s blog on Kveller made news again this week when the Big Bang Theory actor came out against the phenomenally successful Disney film Frozen. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Bialik had already made waves with a critique of the sexualization of images in advertising, including a billboard that featured Ariana Grande.
Her critique of Frozen follows in a similar vein. She says the basic storyline is still about a woman searching desperately for a man, despite assertions to the contrary.
“The sister’s desire to marry this guy she just met, and the other sister getting mad at her — we still have a plot about the identification of a woman being based on her desire and search to meet a man.”
The fact that the prince turns out to be a villain is an example of “male-bashing,” which, according to Bialik, is not true feminism.
Bialik has faced backlash for her Frozen criticism, the latest coming from Rosie O’Donnell, as E! Online reports. Espousing her love for the movie on The View, O’Donnell went so far as to feature a split-screen of herself and Bialik, deliberately invoking the controversial debate she had with former co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck in 2007.
But Bialik is not the first to criticize Frozen or question its feminist credentials. News.com.au recalls earlier internet commentary on the film when it was at the height of its popularity that questioned whether it met the high standard of being a feminist film.
In a piece on Medium earlier this year, writer Dani Colman wrote a lengthy treatise on why Frozen falls far short of its feminist goals. The character of Anna, she insists, is not a feminist role model.
“Anna actually spends a lot of the movie being told what she can and cannot do. Hard as she fights for it, her engagement to Hans isn’t her idea: it’s his. And it’s a decision that has nothing to do with her well-being, desires or happiness, and everything to do with his ulterior motives.”
Similarily, writing in Wetlands magazine in May, Kieran O’Neil criticized the portrayal of Elsa.
“I find it interesting that the only fully-empowered (I mean, literally emPOWERed) female figure in the entire movie is also dangerous, self-destructive, and inhibited by this same power. Are we really so frightened by the concept of the empowered feminine that we are unable to even entertain the possibility of a rational and constructive woman who also exhibits great power and authority?”
As for Bialik, she admits her opinions will get her some negative feedback.
“I know everybody loved ‘Frozen’ and that I am going to get so much hate for this. But I’m just keeping it real, yo. Or trying.”
Bialik blogs regularly on Kveller, a parenting site.
[Mayim Bialik Image: Google]
