NAVIGATING THE DUALITY: THE CULTURAL DYNAMICS OF FATHERHOOD IN TURNING RED

Abstract

Turning Red offers a complex portrait of a Chinese-Canadian family enduring generational and cultural conflicts. Through textual analysis and consideration of cultural contexts, this research aims to illuminate the complexities of fatherhood in a multicultural household. The father, Jin, has a big impact on the family dynamic even though the mother-daughter’s bond is the main focus of the movie. This study examines the cultural dynamics of Jin's parenthood by examining the tension he faces in balancing his support for his daughter's emotional needs with the expectations of conventional Chinese masculinity. By examining Jin's interactions with family, the research explores how his parenting style reflects cultural norms surrounding fatherhood. By applying the type of parenting and its relationship with Asian parenting style, this research tries to examines whether his approach act as a counterpoint to mother's stricter methods. This research also examines whether this parenting style represent a conscious effort to break the cycle of authoritarian parenting often seen in Chinese families.  Furthermore, the research considers how Jin's portrayal reflects the reality of father involvement within Asian cultures.  This research employs textual analysis as the primary method where the writer conducted of specific scenes in Turning Red focusing on Jin's interactions with Mei and Ming. Dialogue, body language, and visual cues will be analyzed to understand his role within the family dynamic. This research uses concepts of cultural expectations of fatherhood, multicultural families and shifting family dynamics. The finding shows that Jin's behavior aligns or subverts traditional notion. Jin navigates the complexities of raising a child in a bicultural household and Jin's parenting style interacts with Ming's approach, creating a unique dynamic within the family. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of how cultural norms and personal choices shape parenting styles, particularly within the context of animated films.