Fox News guest: Frozen doesn't depict 'real men'
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Penny Nance, the CEO of Concerned Women for America, appeared on Wednesday's episode of Fox & Friends to offer her opinion on "The Frozen Effect."
What exactly, is that effect? Apparently, it's the film's empowering message for women — and Nance takes issue with that message.
When host Steve Doocy said Frozen depicts men "as evil and cold and bumblers," Nance was quick to agree. "When we bring our daughters to see Frozen, or whatever the movie is, we often have our little boys sitting there," Nance said. "We want them to know that they're essential. We want to raise heroes. We want to raise real men that will stick in their families and be great dads, and be great providers, and great husbands."
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Setting aside the obvious issues with Nance's statements, it's not a great reading of Frozen and its characters. Maybe Hans was "evil and cold," but what about Kristoff, the rock trolls, and even Olaf? And female empowerment certainly doesn't take away from "real men" and family life — a good portion of Disney's Frozen arc on Once Upon a Time was devoted to Anna and Kristoff's relationship and wedding.
Doocy said that "it would be nice for Hollywood to have more male figures in those kind of movies as heroes," and Nance concluded by saying that "we don't have to empower women at the cost of tearing down men." That's true — but the Frozen story isn't doing that. —Meghan DeMaria
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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
