Pixar’s Fear of Coming Out Queer: A Feminist Analysis of Inside Out and its Sequel
Faculty Mentor
Jessica Willis
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-7-2025 10:00 AM
End Date
5-7-2025 10:20 AM
Location
PUB 323
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies
Abstract
This essay explores how Pixar’s Inside Out and its sequel engage with the concept of emotional authenticity while also reflecting the studio's hesitation to fully embrace queer representation. Through a feminist lens, the paper examines the social pressures of compulsory emotional masking and how they intersect with gender, sexuality, and able-bodiedness. Drawing on Simone de Beauvoir’s feminist theories and queer theory, this analysis critiques Pixar’s reluctance to represent LGBTQIA+ identities directly, despite the film's messages of emotional honesty and self-acceptance. The paper argues that emotional repression—particularly in the queer and disabled communities—mirrors the internal conflicts experienced by the characters in Inside Out. By extending the concept of emotional masking to compulsory able-bodiedness, this essay highlights how societal expectations about body and mind further restrict emotional expression, particularly for marginalized individuals. Ultimately, the paper calls for a more inclusive approach to emotional representation in children’s media, one that challenges heteronormative, able-bodied ideals and embraces the emotional complexities of queer and disabled identities.
Recommended Citation
Ohmert, Mickie, "Pixar’s Fear of Coming Out Queer: A Feminist Analysis of Inside Out and its Sequel" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 6.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/op_2025/o4_2025/6
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Pixar’s Fear of Coming Out Queer: A Feminist Analysis of Inside Out and its Sequel
PUB 323
This essay explores how Pixar’s Inside Out and its sequel engage with the concept of emotional authenticity while also reflecting the studio's hesitation to fully embrace queer representation. Through a feminist lens, the paper examines the social pressures of compulsory emotional masking and how they intersect with gender, sexuality, and able-bodiedness. Drawing on Simone de Beauvoir’s feminist theories and queer theory, this analysis critiques Pixar’s reluctance to represent LGBTQIA+ identities directly, despite the film's messages of emotional honesty and self-acceptance. The paper argues that emotional repression—particularly in the queer and disabled communities—mirrors the internal conflicts experienced by the characters in Inside Out. By extending the concept of emotional masking to compulsory able-bodiedness, this essay highlights how societal expectations about body and mind further restrict emotional expression, particularly for marginalized individuals. Ultimately, the paper calls for a more inclusive approach to emotional representation in children’s media, one that challenges heteronormative, able-bodied ideals and embraces the emotional complexities of queer and disabled identities.
