Estereótipos femininos em animações: uma análise codificada nos filmes industriais de 2012 e 2022

Abstract

It is not a new fact that cinema has increasingly adhered to industrial logic. Often, such commercial interests prevail, bringing a standardized character that carries stereotypes. Among the representations affected by standardization is the portrayal of women. Although much is known about the commercial nature of cinema and female stereotypes, the latter are rarely categorically studied, especially in animations. This work seeks to propose a concrete way of describing stereotyped behaviors of the female gender in animated films, through comparative coding. The selection of films was made considering (1) the five highest-grossing animation films of each year in Brazil in the period between 2012 and 2022 and (2) approval in the Mako Mori test, considering the exploration of the character's narrative dimension. Among the results, it is noted that 9 out of the 12 coded characters exhibited a predominance of behaviors stereotypically attributed to the male. The analysis of the results was carried out considering both the classic narrative format and perspectives that address gender issues, such as criticism of post-feminism. A concrete analysis of stereotypes in animations is shown to be important not only because it contributes to understanding which representations are socially accepted by observing inequality in circulation but also for seeking to understand the predominant representations in a film genre that has a significant social impact. To perceive these standards goes beyond understanding a narrative: it also involves assimilating the ideas that a society propagates to its individuals.