Why is the mother dead or dying in every. flipping. movie. for. kids?

[Anonymous]

Just watched "We Bought a Zoo" last night. OMG.

[Anonymous]

I know. Also, in most movies about love triangles, and also in most detective series: csi, etc.... I guess there is little interesting about the father dying and the mother standing up to the challenge and raising the children on her own, but the film industry find it stunning story worthy the scenario where mother dies and the father struggles to bring up the children.

[Anonymous]

I think it is good for children who have lost mothers to see this in movies. Kind of a "you are not alone" theme.

[Anonymous]

Because the heartbreaking tragedy of losing a mother reflects how important mothers are to their families. It is validating.

[Anonymous]

Also, I think the mother is absent in many kid movies, ie. Disney, because all those exciting (dangerous) things would never happen if your mom was around to take care of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is good for children who have lost mothers to see this in movies. Kind of a "you are not alone" theme.

How many kids lose their mother vs. how many mothers are depicted dead or dying? It's way out of proportion.

OP, it's a symptom of cultural misogyny. Same as how women die the most violent, sexualized and fetishized deaths in crime dramas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because the heartbreaking tragedy of losing a mother reflects how important mothers are to their families. It is validating.

No, any validation there is undermined by the inevitable depiction of the father as a clueless boob who can't function or care for the kids without the mom. Which just doesn't reflect reality in the least.

[Anonymous]

It's NOT just kid's movies either. It's a pretty pervasive.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MissingMom

[Anonymous]

It was in the book Backlash from the 80s. All those movies/tv shows with no mom. I just think they do it so the dad can have love interests in the movie (not for the kids' movies, for the movies for adults).

[Anonymous]

There was a show all about Walt Disney on the other night. Long story short, he felt responsible for the way his mother passed away. Got me thinking that maybe had an influence on some of the Disney films.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is good for children who have lost mothers to see this in movies. Kind of a "you are not alone" theme.

How many kids lose their mother vs. how many mothers are depicted dead or dying? It's way out of proportion.

OP, it's a symptom of cultural misogyny. Same as how women die the most violent, sexualized and fetishized deaths in crime dramas.

There are more children without living mothers than movies showing deceased parents.

[Anonymous]

It is not just kids movies! I noticed this years ago when my mother died suddenly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is good for children who have lost mothers to see this in movies. Kind of a "you are not alone" theme.

How many kids lose their mother vs. how many mothers are depicted dead or dying? It's way out of proportion.

OP, it's a symptom of cultural misogyny. Same as how women die the most violent, sexualized and fetishized deaths in crime dramas.

There are more children without living mothers than movies showing deceased parents.

I don't think you understand the concept of "proportion".

[Anonymous]

The theme of abandonment resonates with young children (and the rest of us). Not sure why. Nothing new here - same theme in Secret Garden, Bambi, and countless other books and movies going way back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, I think the mother is absent in many kid movies, ie. Disney, because all those exciting (dangerous) things would never happen if your mom was around to take care of you.

Completely agree! (Same for Jane Austen novels - the mom is usually dead or completely inadequate. "Sense and Sensibility" is an interesting exception.)