Disney animated material, films and books, are famous for the depiction of various characteristics as is desired or considered the norm in their subjects. Usually, the characters have varying features which they rarely deflect from. For instance, males are considered brave and fearless while the females are depicted as immensely vulnerable and dependent (England et al., 558). Animals such as bulls are by nature expected and depicted as being very tough. In the film and book “Ferdinand the bull” Ferdinand is a friendly young bull who is very different from typical bulls in the society. While bulls are expected to be very tough and rowdy, Ferdinand was very peaceful and preferred to sit alone, to smell and enjoy the scent of flowers (Leaf 2). Gender identity is amongst the most prevalent themes in the story. Disney characters usually are given distinct values in accordance with their gender, race and social vulnerability and the divergence from the expected is very rare thus considered abnormal.
Gender identity refers to a personal conception and internal sense of what a person associated themselves with (Steensma et al., 289) . Therefore, the status is based on an individual conviction and not what the society or outsiders believe or expect from a person (Steensma et al., 289). Ferdinand the bull is among the Disney characters who greatly illustrates the concept of gender identity through his behavior of being different and sticking to his beliefs, regardless of what everyone else expects.
First, Ferdinand the bull was a male. The male Disney characters are associated with immense bravery and courage (England et al., 558). The males were the leaders and were therefore expected to illustrate the aspect of strength even in the face of danger. Ferdinand was different in the sense that he was extremely fearful. Unlike the other bulls who were engaged in fights and were not afraid to face each other, Ferdinand avoided such instances and preferred to be in a serene, peaceful environment (Leaf 2).
Also, the males are depicted as immensely unemotional, who are expected to show great indifference to pleasure or even pain (England et al., 558). Ferdinand is different. He is very emotional and does not find fighting or bullying others appealing to him. When he is mistakenly captured and taken to the fighting arena, he is confused as he does not know what to do. Ferdinand was captured when he sat on a bee, and upon pricking him, felt intense pain, and the emotion triggered him to run around as he tried to get rid and stop the pain (Leaf 2). Any other bull would have probably squashed the bee and handled the pain like a man, but Ferdinand was different.
Ferdinand is also very affectionate and nurturing, which is not expected of bulls. He spends his time smelling the flowers and picking flowers, amazed by their beauty. His affection is greatly illustrated in the fighting arena where instead of fighting, he chooses to pick the flowers that had been thrown in by a spectator and make a lovely bouquet. The bullfighter is confused, and upon ripping his shirt in dismay, Ferdinand sees a tattoo of a flower and lovingly licks it. The scenario shows his level of affection as he does not consider the bullfighter as an enemy but instead sees him as a friend whom he adores.
Physical strength is also associated with the male characters and the typical bulls in the story not only fought the bullfighters, but they were very rowdy and significantly destroyed things that were on his way (England et al., 558). Ferdinand, on the other hand, had already identified with weakness since he neither practiced for the fights nor got involved in such activities but instead spent his days under a tree smelling flowers. Inactivity leads to muscle weaknesses, and for the characters to be strong, they always have to undergo extensive training and practices. Ferdinand was content with his lifestyle and never desired to be like the other bulls, thus had become accustomed to being weak and perceived as a coward.
The rejection of gender norms depicted by Ferdinand is an illustration of the importance of a person knowing themselves and sticking to their beliefs. Gender identity is a very personal issue, and when a person embraces it entirely, without the fear of rejection or reprimanding from other people, their lives become more fulfilling (Steensma et al., 289). Bulls are known for their courage, fierceness, and aggression. In a typical bullfighting scene, the bulls are considered very dangerous, and they charge at the fighters with great strength and anger and in some instances hurt them immensely. Ferdinand knew that he was expected to lead a similar life but choose to stick to what appealed most to him which was nurturing and smelling flowers all day long. His behavior matched with what a female ideally would do, and so the people would not understand nor support him. Ferdinand undoubtedly knew all this, but he was content being alone, so long as he was doing what he loved. When he was taken to the fighting arena and instead of charging at the fighter chose to collect flowers thrown in the field, Ferdinand knew that he had let down the spectators. That was not important to him as he was living his truth, and collecting flowers and seeing the best of every situation was whom he was.
It is evident that Ferdinand the bull has a strong sense of gender identity and is truthful to what he believes in. Despite the fact that he is a male bull who is expected to be very courageous, strong and rowdy, he associates with serenity and very peaceful life. Since his birth, Ferdinand always loves smelling flowers and did not change upon growing up. His identity resembled that of women, but he did not mind as that is what made him happy. As stated, gender identity is a very personal choice, and Ferdinand has already decided to stick to what he believes, and the lifestyle he felt was for him. Despite being alone and always spending his days in solitude, Ferdinand was very content and had no desire to change his lifestyle. The fact is proven when he is taken by fighters to participate in a bull-fighting match after being mistakenly considered tough and instead of behaving like a bull chooses to pick flowers thrown in the arena and make patterns and a bouquet with them. The people are immensely disappointed, and upon the rider opening his shirt and revealing a flower tattoo, Ferdinand goes up to him and licks it. The riders have no choice other than let him go, and he returns to his tree and continues smelling flowers, just like he is accustomed.
Works cited
England, Dawn Elizabeth, Lara Descartes, and Melissa A. Collier-Meek. "Gender role portrayal and the Disney princesses." Sex roles 64.7-8 (2011): 555-567.
Leaf, Munro. The story of Ferdinand. Penguin, 1977.
Steensma, Thomas D., et al. "Gender identity development in adolescence." Hormones and behavior 64.2 (2013): 288-297.
