I still think Moana deserved an Oscar for this part
To me, the moral of Moana is that only women can help other women heal from male violence.
The movie starts with the idea that the male god who wronged Te Fiti must be the one to heal her. This seems to make a certain sort of intuitive sense in that I think we all believe that if you do something wrong you should try to make it right. But how does he try to right it? Through more violence. Of course that failed.
It was only when another woman, Moana, saw past the “demon of earth and fire” that the traumatized Te Fiti had become (what a good metaphor for trauma, right?) and met her with love instead of violence that she was able to heal. Note that they do the forehead press before Moana restores the heart, while Te Fiti is still Te Kā. Moana doesn’t wait for her beautiful island goddess to appear in all her green splendor before greeting and treating her as someone deserving of love.
Moana is only able to restore the heart because Te Kā reveals her vulnerability and allows Moana to touch her there. Maui and his male violence could only ever have resulted in more ruin.
…this is exactly what I was trying to say and you put it beautifully. @i-want-cheese This is why the scene makes me tear up every damn time. Women’s honest, ugly reaction to trauma is almost never even depicted in films, let alone honored the way it is in Moana. Te Fiti doesn’t have to “rise above” being violated before she’s allowed to heal. Moana sees her and says
I know your name They have stolen the heart from inside you But this does not define you
She utterly accepts Te Fiti’s rage, her fear, her lashing out at anyone who comes near the remains of her ravaged body island. Female ugliness isn’t punished, it’s mourned and loved. What an indescribably comforting moment.
In honor of International Women’s Day, check out these young activists doing their part to make the world a more inclusive place.
Emma González
A survivor of the recent tragedies in Parkland, Emma is at the forefront of the #NeverAgain gun control movement taking the nation by storm. But don’t get it twisted … Emma is no newbie to social justice. She is vocal about her family’s immigrant identity and helps lead her school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. Repeat after me: “Emma González 2036, Emma González 2036, Emma Gonzá…”
Blair Imani
Blair is proud of her intersectional identity as a black, queer Muslim and is passionate about gender equity. When she isn’t running her education foundation for women and non-binary folks, Equality for HER, Blair can be found protesting racial injustice and police brutality. Who says you can’t do it all???
Lauren Jauregui
I mean, how could I not include her on this list??? From calling out politicians on inhumane policies like the Muslim Ban to demanding protections for young undocumented Americans, this Fifth Harmony star is not afraid to use her platform to help others. Lauren J is my favorite pop-queen-turned-social-activist and I want everyone to know it!!
Alice Brown Otter
When she was just 12 years old, Alice ran 1,519 miles from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to Washington, D.C. to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline. If this young activist doesn’t inspire us all to make impact in our communities then I don’t know what will!!
Eva Maria Lewis
Eva is a brave high school student who helped to lead a sit-in protest of over 1,000 activists in Chicago to protest gun violence and police brutality. Compelled to action by the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012, Eva helped found Youth for Black Lives, a Chicago youth-led racial justice organization. Do yourself a favor and watch the chilling TED Talk she gave … you’ll thank me later 🙂
Aly Raisman
Most know Aly as an Olympic gold-medalist and member of the “Fierce Five” 2012 U.S. gymnastics team. Today we are celebrating her for her bravery in the #MeToo movement. Aly continues to spread messages of body positivity and encourages fellow survivors to use their voices to empower each other. We can all be more like Aly!!
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