How movies teach manhood | Colin Stokes

Introduction and Favorite Movies

The speaker discusses their favorite part of being a dad, which is watching movies with their kids. They mention watching "The Wizard of Oz" with their daughter and how it dominated her imagination.

Sharing Favorite Movies with Kids

• Watching movies with kids is a favorite part of being a dad.

• Shared the movie "The Wizard of Oz" with their daughter when she was four.

• "The Wizard of Oz" dominated the daughter's imagination for months.

Uniqueness of "The Wizard of Oz"

The speaker reflects on the uniqueness of "The Wizard of Oz" compared to modern children's movies. They discuss the lack of violence in the movie and the presence of strong female characters.

Unique Aspects of "The Wizard of Oz"

• "The Wizard of Oz" stood alone in its time and had little violence.

• If made today, there would likely be more violence and a prophecy about defeating enemies using magic slippers.

• All heroic, wise, and villainous characters in "The Wizard of Oz" are female.

Gender Representation in Movies

The speaker discusses gender representation in movies by sharing an experience showing "Star Wars" to their daughter and son. They highlight the differences between male-dominated narratives and the inclusive world they prefer for their children.

Gender Representation in Movies

• Showed "Star Wars" to their daughter and son, noticing the lack of female characters and their limited roles.

• Reflects on the themes of courage, perseverance, loyalty, and the absence of diverse relationships in male-dominated narratives.

• Expresses a preference for a world like Oz where friendship and leadership are valued over violence.

Lack of Female-Centric Narratives

The speaker questions why there is an abundance of movies focused on male heroes and violence while lacking stories centered around female characters.

Imbalance in Movie Themes

• Questions why there is more focus on male heroes and violence (Force) rather than stories with strong female characters (yellow brick road).

• Acknowledges existing writing about the impact of male-violent movies on girls but highlights the lack of discussion about how boys perceive these narratives.

Messages Sent to Boys

The speaker discusses how Disney princesses teach girls to defend against patriarchy but fail to provide models for boys to do the same.

Messages Sent to Boys

• Disney princesses teach girls how to defend against patriarchy but don't provide models for boys.

• While there are exceptions like Hermione and Katniss, most stories with strong women still revolve around war.

Bechdel Test and Lack of Female Conversations

The speaker introduces the Bechdel Test, which assesses female representation in movies based on whether they have meaningful conversations that don't revolve around men.

The Bechdel Test and Lack of Female Conversations

• Introduces the Bechdel Test, which asks if a movie has more than one female character with lines who talk to each other about something other than a man.

• Highlights how even highly acclaimed movies like "Argo" often fail the Bechdel Test.

This summary provides an overview of the main points discussed in the transcript. It is important to watch the video or read the full transcript for a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

The Representation of Female Protagonists in Popular Movies

In 2011, only eleven out of the 100 most popular movies had female protagonists. While this is not a high percentage, it is still better than the number of women elected to Congress at that time. However, there is a more concerning statistic related to sexual assault.

• In 2011, only eleven out of the 100 most popular movies had female protagonists.

• This number is lower than the percentage of women elected to Congress.

• The representation of female protagonists in popular movies needs improvement.

Sexual Assault Statistics and Popular Entertainment

A study published by The New York Times revealed that one out of five women in America reported being sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. While this cannot be solely attributed to popular entertainment such as kids' movies, music videos, or pornography, it raises questions about what messages are being absorbed by individuals who commit such acts.

• One out of five women in America report experiencing sexual assault.

• Popular entertainment may not be directly responsible for these statistics.

• There is a need to understand what influences individuals who commit sexual assault.

Impact on Children and Parental Concerns

Parents are alarmed by the statistics on sexual assault and want to prepare their children for a safer world. They question whether concepts like "girl power" can protect their daughters if boys are simultaneously being taught to maintain their dominance. Parents have an important role in shaping new definitions of manhood and encouraging respect for women.

• Parents find the statistics on sexual assault alarming and want to protect their children.

• Concepts like "girl power" may not be enough if boys are not taught respect for girls.

• Parents need to model and teach a new definition of manhood that includes trust, respect, and standing up against abuse.

Raising Sons with a New Definition of Manhood

The definition of manhood is changing in the modern world, with shifting roles in caregiving and wage earning. Fathers have a crucial role in showing their sons a new definition of manhood that involves trusting and respecting women, being part of their team, and standing up against those who want to harm them.

• The definition of manhood is evolving due to changes in societal roles.

• Fathers have an important role in teaching their sons a new definition of manhood.

• Real men trust and respect women, stand up against abusers, and support gender equality.

Encouraging Positive Role Models for Boys

It is essential to seek out movies that pass the Bechdel Test (which measures female representation) and feature heroines who demonstrate courage and bring people together. By encouraging boys to identify with these heroines, parents can help shape their understanding of leadership qualities that involve knowledge sharing and helping others reach their potential.

• Look for movies that pass the Bechdel Test and feature strong heroines.

• Heroines who demonstrate courage and bring people together should be encouraged as positive role models.

• Boys should be taught to identify with these heroines as leaders who share knowledge and help others.

Obi-Wan Kenobi & Glinda as Role Models

The speaker's daughter identified Obi-Wan Kenobi from "Star Wars" as her favorite character because he shares his knowledge to help others. This highlights the importance of characters who are experts in movies. Both boys and girls can benefit from quests that involve knowledge sharing and helping others reach their potential.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi and Glinda are identified as characters who share knowledge to help others.

• Characters who are experts and love sharing knowledge can be positive role models.

• Boys and girls can benefit from quests that involve knowledge sharing and personal growth.