Response to "Post Princess Models of Gender: The New Man in Disney/Pixar"

          While I could read endless papers about female gender roles in Disney movies, I've noticed a lack of research on the male gender roles. The idea that a female can be masculine is entirely more widely accepted than the idea that a male can be feminine. That just simply doesn't make sense to me. In "Post-Princess Models of Gender: The New Man in Disney/Pixar," the author explores these ideas along with its creation of a postfeminist model of gender.
          The most interesting part of this article to me was the realization that quite a few Pixar movies follow very similar plot lines. The basic outline of this fundamental pixar plot is an overly masculine male protagonist is defeated. The rest of the movie follows that newly de-masculinized protagonist gaining back his masculinity and finding friendship along the way. In the end, he finds a middle ground between his original overly masculine self and femininity. In this way, Pixar is creating its "new man." This generic Pixar plot can be seen in Toy Story (1995), Monster's Inc (2001), Cars (2006), Monster's University (2013) and The Incredibles (2004). To me, this is a shock. I always thought of Pixar movies as incredibly unique, so the fact that they all have the same underlying plot is startling. However, I can see where this is an important plot to show.
          Pixar's creation of the "new man" in all of their movies may seem like a lack of creativity, but it's truly just that important of a message. Pixar tells us that men don't have to act or look like Prince Charming to be in Disney movies anymore. Pixar finally gives a place to the average man. This "new man" accepts the idea of a gender spectrum in which feminine qualities in a man are as normal as masculine qualities in a man. In my opinion, Pixar is doing a great job at preaching gender equality and if they have to sacrifice inventive plots for it, so be it.