Transgender in Disney

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 12-29-2011, 06:47 PM

This can go off topic to general transgender tolerance discussions but I read on a Facebook forum that people were saying Disney movies should have transgendered themes/characters. Others were arguing kids were to young to be watching such adult themes. The retort was that most transgender children know they are not the right gender by 'grade 5' apparently. Should we be encouraging themes like this in family movies to encourage tolerance in children (to reduce bullying amongst their peers) or is it not age appropriate?

Personally I wouldn't want my children watching movies with these kind of themes, I'd rather retain their innocence and teach them about tolerance myself. If I so happened to have a child that was transgendered I would wait until their older to make sure they know what they really want and make sure they get lots of education about it.

RVCA · 12-29-2011, 07:08 PM

Since transsexuality is an inherently sexual subject, it doesn't seem appropriate to start teaching children about it until they are deemed old enough to learn about sexual subjects. In California, this is around 5th-6th grade (or ages 11-13). That being said, I don't think it could possibly hurt to include homosexual and transgender characters in children's films/shows, as long as the goal in doing so is to show that being transgender/homosexual is perfectly normal/acceptable.

Paedantic Basterd · 12-29-2011, 07:13 PM

This is as near as I can think to a transgender character being included in a children's film.

I'm having a hard time imagining how a Disney cartoon would include such a character without there being any explanation for them? I don't believe the topic is about writing films about transgendered characters. I suppose I can't envision it very clearly.

RVCA · 12-29-2011, 07:25 PM

Yeah, I was talking more about homosexual couples in films. It would be hard to depict/explain a transgender character without being sexual

Paedantic Basterd · 12-29-2011, 07:32 PM

I don't think so. "They're a boy who wants to be a girl". It doesn't have to be sexual.

Above · 12-29-2011, 07:35 PM

Gender is separate from sexuality. Just leaving this important detail here...

~~Farfisa~~ · 12-29-2011, 07:53 PM

Haven't you guys seen Mulan? Then again, that was more about breaking the mold in terms of gender roles than dealing with gender identity.

Wandering Son - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I hadn't read the manga, but the I liked the animated adaption of "Wondering Son". It pretty much revolves around two kids in 5th grade, one (a girl) wanting to be a boy, and another (a boy) who wants to be a girl. Imagine going through puberty with all of this happening, not sure about who you are, or better yet, not knowing what to do. It's full of pretty awkward moments, most of them from the male protagonist in the story.

Howard the Duck · 12-30-2011, 07:09 AM

Ranma 1/2 is about a dude who can change to a girl, with cold water and back to a dude again with hot water

the Japanese have been doing this for a while now

Above · 12-30-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

This can go off topic to general transgender tolerance discussions but I read on a Facebook forum that people were saying Disney movies should have transgendered themes/characters. Others were arguing kids were to young to be watching such adult themes. The retort was that most transgender children know they are not the right gender by 'grade 5' apparently. Should we be encouraging themes like this in family movies to encourage tolerance in children (to reduce bullying amongst their peers) or is it not age appropriate?

Personally I wouldn't want my children watching movies with these kind of themes, I'd rather retain their innocence and teach them about tolerance myself. If I so happened to have a child that was transgendered I would wait until their older to make sure they know what they really want and make sure they get lots of education about it.

Eh, there are a lot of factors to the 'awakening' that you're transgendered. I was a very masculine person in high school to cover up what I felt all through my life. I'd never even heard of the word "transgendered" until just more than a year ago. It's not as black and white as "knowing" you're trans*. Gender is a spectrum, and is as fluid as sexuality. If you do so happen to have a transgendered child in the future, go along with their feelings, even if you feel it's just a 'phase'. It's so much easier to go through a life like this with support. How you raise your kids is your business, but I never had support from my parents on this issue so... Yeah.

I don't really know how having a transgendered character in a Disney film steals a child's innocence. I watched Mulan a few times as a child and that never corrupted me.

**Frownland** · 12-30-2011, 04:41 PM

Well, they can make them if they so feel the need to, but if it's modern day Disney I probably wouldn't want my child watching that straight to video garbage either way.

12-29-2011, 06:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	Transgender in Disney This can go off topic to general transgender tolerance discussions but I read on a Facebook forum that people were saying Disney movies should have transgendered themes/characters. Others were arguing kids were to young to be watching such adult themes. The retort was that most transgender children know they are not the right gender by 'grade 5' apparently. Should we be encouraging themes like this in family movies to encourage tolerance in children (to reduce bullying amongst their peers) or is it not age appropriate? Personally I wouldn't want my children watching movies with these kind of themes, I'd rather retain their innocence and teach them about tolerance myself. If I so happened to have a child that was transgendered I would wait until their older to make sure they know what they really want and make sure they get lots of education about it. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

12-29-2011, 07:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Above Oh my golly! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: England Posts: 339	Gender is separate from sexuality. Just leaving this important detail here... __________________ Be pure, Be vigilant, Behave

12-30-2011, 04:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Well, they can make them if they so feel the need to, but if it's modern day Disney I probably wouldn't want my child watching that straight to video garbage either way. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

12-29-2011, 07:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
RVCA （￣ー￣） Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,270	Since transsexuality is an inherently sexual subject, it doesn't seem appropriate to start teaching children about it until they are deemed old enough to learn about sexual subjects. In California, this is around 5th-6th grade (or ages 11-13). That being said, I don't think it could possibly hurt to include homosexual and transgender characters in children's films/shows, as long as the goal in doing so is to show that being transgender/homosexual is perfectly normal/acceptable.

12-29-2011, 07:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	This is as near as I can think to a transgender character being included in a children's film. I'm having a hard time imagining how a Disney cartoon would include such a character without there being any explanation for them? I don't believe the topic is about writing films about transgendered characters. I suppose I can't envision it very clearly.

12-29-2011, 07:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
RVCA （￣ー￣） Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,270	Yeah, I was talking more about homosexual couples in films. It would be hard to depict/explain a transgender character without being sexual

12-29-2011, 07:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I don't think so. "They're a boy who wants to be a girl". It doesn't have to be sexual.

12-29-2011, 07:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
~~Farfisa~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,773	Haven't you guys seen Mulan? Then again, that was more about breaking the mold in terms of gender roles than dealing with gender identity. Wandering Son - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I hadn't read the manga, but the I liked the animated adaption of "Wondering Son". It pretty much revolves around two kids in 5th grade, one (a girl) wanting to be a boy, and another (a boy) who wants to be a girl. Imagine going through puberty with all of this happening, not sure about who you are, or better yet, not knowing what to do. It's full of pretty awkward moments, most of them from the male protagonist in the story.