Comments on: Cartoons stereotype women too

By: Foy Lisenby

Foy Lisenby — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:13:35 +0000

Stereotypes of women appeared frequently in magazines such as Saturday Evening Post during the 1930s and 1940s. They declined in number after about 1950.

By: Khello

Khello — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:13:08 +0000

What bout wonder woman

By: geeronak

geeronak — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:41:37 +0000

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

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:52:19 +0000

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?

By: Lia

Lia — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:43:53 +0000

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You’re focusing on the most obvious, most out of date examples possible.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.