Turning Red: How “inappropriate” is it really?

How “inappropriate” is it really?

Turning Red is a film many parents have been saying is “inappropriate,” but that may not be the case. Premiering on March 11, this coming-of-age movie follows 13-year-old Chinese Canadian Meilin (Mei) Lee while she is going through puberty as well as fighting her inner monsters (quite literally). Mei is at the age where she is finding herself and expressing it through many different ways. Whether it’s her music taste, her friend group or her interest in boys, she is proud of who she is and doesn’t hide it.

While many parents have described this movie as, “adorable,” and “refreshing,” as well as a great representation in many aspects such as, teen girls, characters of color and characters with disabilities, others are less enthusiastic. Some parents have been criticizing the movie for several reasons such as encouraging kids to rebel, containing periods and their pad counterparts. While the overall agreement about what age kids should watch this movie is 10, some parents have deemed it appropriate for 6-yearolds or kids as young as 3.

To see so many people look down on the idea of children rebelling against their strict but loving parents is slightly surprising due to the fact that this storyline is very popular in kid-centric entertainment. From Ariel going against her father in The Little Mermaid, to Merida always groaning in her mother’s face in Brave, as well as Moana sailing away from home, many of the Disney/Pixar films have a “child disobeys their parent” plot line. Although it’s different when the rebelling is more modernized, it still feels like parents should be less riled up about how Mei acts. Although some parents have been claiming that this movie contains naked drawings of Mei’s crush, it does not. The most naked drawing we see is when she draws him as a merman. Bare chests and mermen aren’t things we haven’t seen in Disney so why are parents reacting differently when they are shown in this movie? The one thing less present in other movies is also the one thing less parents have rioted about. The morning Mei discovers she has transformed, she freaks out which causes her mother Ming to believe “the red peony bloomed” and proceeds to grab a trove of all different kinds of pads. In another scene, Ming runs to Mei’s school to bring her more pads. Even though this aspect of the movie has gotten less backlash, some parents are very upset with the fact that menstruating was mentioned in the film. They felt that their son’s “shouldn’t have to see that” despite the fact that it’s a normal part of life and wanted them to leave the periods/hormones to the parents to teach. This film shows how deep the bond between mother and daughter is and how growing up can affect that bond both in good and bad ways. The movie also gives representation to different groups and can show kids what to expect from puberty.

BY AVA KUZNIK

Photo from Disney