What the Movies Get Right and Wrong About Motherhood
By Jessilyn Lancaster, Managing Editor, with David Outten, Contributing Writer
Hollywood’s fascination with feminism may be to the detriment of mothers as movies seem to devalue the role of a mother and place independent singlehood on a pedestal. As I begin to show my son movies as he grows up, the more I notice what Hollywood gets right — and wrong — about motherhood.
Very few movies show capable, working mothers who value their family above all. As I rewatched THE INCREDIBLES with my son, I was struck by Helen Parr’s sacrifice for her family. While she’s given up the superhero life for a time, when her family is in need, she turns back to the skills and talents that made her famous. This time, though, I’d argue she’s more powerful as she’s fueled by the love for her family.
Sadly, the feminist movement in modern Hollywood prevents many stories like THE INCREDIBLES from making it on screen. Instead, we’re given BARBIE, that bucks traditional morals in favor of fulfilling your own selfish desires. On the positive side, we are seeing movies like SOUND OF FREEDOM that promote the value of life, and even FLAMIN’ HOT presented a strong father figure. But, where are the mothers in modern movies?
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPDIER-VERSE contained a caring mother, but she was relegated to the background of Miles’ adventures. How much better would the movie have been if Miles had shared his secret with his mom and seen her beaming with pride for all the work he’s done?
Often, I feel Hollywood forgets the value of moms because they don’t see the small joys that come daily as a mother raises her children. Motherhood can be so fulfilling when you focus on the victories, when you watch your child discover a new interest or passion, when you see their faces light up as they experience something for the first time, the pure elation you feel when they first discover how to smile and just grin at you over and over. Motherhood provides a unique opportunity to pour into a little life and shape hearts and minds to seek God above all else. It allows you to experience the love God has for His children on a minuscule level.
The modern feminist movement ignores all this for selfish pursuit.
The world is hungry for entertainment that presents male and female as God intended. This does not relegate women to second place. Children need both providers and caregivers. Audiences need some stories where these roles are presented as being of equal value. We need programs where a mother is presented as be heroic for being a good mother.
The movie THE BLIND SIDE did far better at the box office than expected because Sandra Bullock modeled motherly love even for an adopted son. Her compassion brought audiences to tears.
Very costly feminist movies are beginning to do poorly at the box office. Bud Light is suffering from a horrific boycott, because the brand sought to promote the most extreme form of feminism — a man
abandoning manhood to present himself as a girl to children. Is the only hope left for men to declare themselves female? Will Disney hire Dylan Mulvaney to play Snow White? It would not only be a box office bomb, but it might empty Disney’s theme parks as well.
Bring back motherhood. Celebrate it. Honor it. Honor it even more in a marriage where a father get to actually be a man.
If Disney would like to see its stock triple in price and its parks full, honor mothers and fathers, honor marriage. This is what it takes to succeed
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