Negotiating female masculinity through Merida’s resistance in Disney’s Brave

Abstract

Disney’s Brave (2012) presents a female protagonist whose characteristics differ from the conventional representation of Disney princesses. Rather than conforming to traditional feminine expectations, Merida demonstrates independence, courage, assertiveness, competitiveness, and self-determination, making the film a valuable literary text for examining the representation of female masculinity. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of female masculinity embodied by Merida and to explain how these characteristics are manifested through her resistance to patriarchal gender expectations. The study employed a qualitative descriptive design using library research. The primary data consisted of the Brave movie script and corresponding film scenes, while secondary data were obtained from scholarly books and journal articles related to masculinity, gender, and literary criticism. Data were collected through close reading, repeated viewing of the film, and documentation, and were analyzed using qualitative content analysis supported by structural and masculinity approaches. The findings reveal that Merida consistently exhibits masculine characteristics through her actions, decisions, and interactions with other characters. These characteristics are most evident in her rejection of an arranged marriage, participation in the archery competition, and determination to make independent decisions regarding her future. The study further demonstrates that female masculinity in Brave is represented as a socially constructed identity rather than a biological attribute. By portraying a female protagonist who challenges patriarchal traditions while maintaining her identity as a woman, the film broadens contemporary representations of gender in animated films. The study contributes to literary and gender studies by offering a female masculinity perspective for interpreting character representation in contemporary popular culture.