Cartoons stereotype women too
By: Sally Gao
One of the easiest places to find stereotypical women is in cartoons.
It’s hard to find women featured in them in the first place, but when they are, they’re portrayed as weak, vulnerable or subservient. From Disney movies to comics to cartoon shows, the media’s construction of women is everywhere. And they paint an unrealistic picture of who they are in general.
Even from the early to mid 1900s, female Disney cartoon characters are mere objects of affection. They are usually helpless when it comes to defending themselves. Sometimes they are nothing more than just decoration. Many of the Disney women have stereotypical female roles like the housemaid. In most instances, however, they don’t have any role but to support the leading male characters. Most of them are written as princesses who need to be saved from the “wicked witch” and then who fall in love with the handsome prince. It’s very rare to see women take charge in Disney films, with the exception of Mulan (1998).
The illustration of Disney female characters is also cliché. For example, in Aladdin (1992), Princess Jasmine has a typical slim body with defined curves and a tiny waist. Her arms and legs are so thin they could hardly be distinguished from each other. These elements further girls’ insecurity about their body image. And they are also not reflective of real life.
Photo from www.comicrelated.com
Nonetheless, women are not treated much different in comics, either. In fact, they also need rescuing and it’s often by a superhero. Some female comic characters may start off as being strong and independent but they soon become damsels in distress. (Hint: That’s when Superman comes flying with his cape.) Whether it’s Batman, Spiderman or Superman, it’s always the men doing the saving and the women playing the victims. It seems like the female comic characters are vulnerable to danger and do not have the muscle power or brain power to protect themselves.
When women are the heroines, however, their bodies are sexualized. Lara Croft, for example, wears tight clothes that show off her long legs and defined waistline. Wonder Woman, on the other hand, is even more discrete. For her costume, she wears a sleeveless garment baring her cleavage and a pair of thigh-high shorts. Both female characters wear very sensual clothing and their attractiveness is more prominent than their other characteristics.
And finally, television cartoons also stereotype women. In fact, they make women look powerless. They are usually written as housewives or stay-at-home moms. In The Flintstones, for example, Wilma is a housecleaning and cooking wife. She is obedient and serves her husband. Similarly, in The Simpsons, Marge is a stay-at-home mom who looks after her two kids while her husband goes out to work. This delivers a message that women’s place is in the home.
Photo from www.tombraider4u.com
Some other cartoon shows over feminize women, however. Two characters, Jessica Rabbit and Betty Boop, are prime examples of stereotypically feminine women. They have full figures with big chests and they wear red lipstick. Their seductiveness makes them desirable to men and above all, makes them subservient.
Overall, this negative portrayal of women in cartoons furthers gender inequality. And it’s about time this type of stereotyping stopped so children will no longer be misinformed about gender roles. After all, women are much tougher, stronger and more independent than ever now.
What about Tank Girl, who is as sexualized or un-sexualized as she wants to be in both the comics and the movie? Not to mention how powerful and confident she is all the way through. Or Lisa Simpson? When The Simpsons began Marge was taking on a traditional, accessible role, not an anti-woman role – and she’s juxtaposed by Lisa, the smartest, most hard working, most moral and creative character in the series.
You’re focusing on the most obvious, most out of date examples possible. There are so many current movies, cartoons and comics that show women as both realistic and exceptional. It’s no use to complain about the past when there’s an opportunity to bring the positives of the present to light.
See Ross Cambell’s “Water Baby” in comics, and in cartoons what about Daria? In princess films, Danielle in “Ever After” rescues herself just fine… Or the new “Frog Princess” movie by Disney (black, poor AND a self starter, hows that for feminism?).
Sure they might not be as popular and obvious as Betty Boop (seriously, the 30′s?) but last I checked, drawing that necessary attention to them was YOUR job. You’re a writer. Write about something that matters and that we haven’t heard before.
Most of those listed are quite old… Even Marge, of The Simpsons, is off a show that began airing in the 80′s. Yes, Marge is a housewife, but it’s pretty clearly by choice.
If I was going to pick someone off the show to worry about, it’d be Edna Krabapple. She’s clearly an educated woman with a career, but the implication is that she’s bitter and alone. Typical portrayal of a women having to choose between a career or a family.
As for Disney movies… you choose to attack Jasmine for being skinny? Legs so thin they’re barely distinguishable from her arms…ROFL! I’d like to see what pic you’re basing this on. I don’t remember there being a bikini scene, or did you forget the poofy wide-legged pants worn in the movie that conceal her leg size?
In Aladdin, I thought Jasmine was pretty bad ass ditching the palace and all she’s been one of the few Disney princesses to make any attempt to control her life
What bout wonder woman
Stereotypes of women appeared frequently in magazines such as Saturday Evening Post during the 1930s and 1940s. They declined in number after about 1950.