Stereotypical Gender Representation in Childrens Cartoons

Question : Describe stereotypical gender representation in childrens cartoons. Answer : Abstract This study sought to examine stereotypical gender representation in childrens cartoons. The literature review looks at previous studies and research within this field and will discuss findings from such studies. The purpose of this study is to look at how gender stereotyping is portrayed in modern day cartoons. In order to enable this study, three current childrens cartoons were observed and the characters roles recorded and further discussed and the findings collated and presented graphs. The results of such data are then discussed further and findings from the study concurred. The findings however indicated stereotypical behaviours with male and female characters being portrayed stereotypically. Introduction Therefore it can be assumed that children might use the portrayals of males and females in cartoons which they are observing. The influential theorist Albert Bandura believed that observational learning is type of learning which occurs as a function of observing, retaining and replicating novel behaviour role modelled by others. According to Bandura gender stereotyping is something children learn through their everyday interactions and their social environment, Banduras theory states that a childs comparison with distorted television versions of social reality can foster shared misconceptions of people, places and things. (417) This theory supports the gender stereotyping is learned process and Signorielli (1991) suggests that television is a component in the socialization, the report seeks to discuss the gender stereotyping of current childrens cartoons. The report looks at research which has been carried out in this field already. Children begin to watch television for a very young age from about eighteen months to two years of age (Thompson 1979:49) therefore very young children have difficulty telling fantasy from reality, Bandura suggests that children are particularly susceptible to the way in which gender types are portrayed on television, especially cartoons which make up the majority of childrens television between the ages of two and eleven years of age consequencely supporting this Witt 2000 states that studies show that pre-schoolers spend an average of nearly thirty hours a week watching television and by the time children are sixteen years old, they have spent more time watching television than going to school. Of children therefore television becomes the most important learning tool that teaches children socialization and how gender fits in to society (Barner 1999), subsequently supporting this Witt 2000 suggests such gender biased behaviour could be displayed by children and might develop gender biased behaviour through what they observe on television. Although observational learning can take place at any stage in life, it is thought to be greater importance during childhood and therefore the social learning theory has influenced debates on the effect of television. Methodology Design This type of research which was carried out was qualitative research, qualitative research seeks to discern the quality rather than the quantity of its study. The qualitative research method seeks to discern the quality rather than the quantity of its subject, it is therefore often used with explaining the why and how of a phenomenon as opposed to the what, when and where. Since qualitative research is exploratory and focuses on the discerning the why of things, such as human behaviour, rather than the what of the natural world, it is often criticized for being too subjective (Hatch, 2002) Participants This study was carried out by fellow peers, which was a varied age range and were females. Materials The participants in the study were all females of variety of ages, three popular cartoons were watched from DVD episodes. Procedure The three cartoons, Angelina ballerina, Tomas the tank engine and the Rubbadubbers were observed and analysed with respect to the ratio of males and females shown, and their roles within the cartoon and how they were portrayed throughout each episode. Literature review Gender stereotypes Research carried out by Thompson and Zerbinos (1995) examined the stereotyping present stereotypical behaviours such as the male gender being more rough, aggressive and strong and the females tend to be portrayed as more feminine. Consequently this is supported by Sternglanz and Serbin (1974) by stating that the behaviours of males and females were stereotypical in the ten cartoons analysed. Research has been carried out as to the role of characters in cartoons and personality, Barcus (1983) suggests that female characters are more likely to be younger and married in comparison to the males which were given significantly more prominent roles this was supported by the findings of Levinson (1975) by stating that male characters were seen to have a variety of occupations and roles in comparison to the females. There is a general view that the media act as important agents of socialization, and therefore contributing to the shaping of gender roles this is supported by the social learning theorist Albert Bandura to the modelling of behaviour. Children begin to watch television from a very young age, therefore very young children have difficulty telling fantasy from reality. Bandura suggests that children are particularly susceptible to the way in which genders types are portrayed on television, especially cartoons which make up the majority of childrens television between the ages two and eleven years of age. Therefore, it can be assumed that children might use the portrayals of males and females in cartoons. Thompson and Zebrions (1995) carried out research and analysed hundred and seventy five episodes of forty one different cartoons showing large discrepancies between prominence and portrayal of male and female characters. It was noted in their study that the male characters were given more prominence in comparison to the females. The way in which women have been portrayed on television has received considerable attention from researchers for more than two decades. This research has shown that females have been under represented on television programs, in adverts and even in cartoons, which females usually appear in lower status occupations if they are depicted as holding a job, and that females characters appear as knowledgeable than male characters. The Rubbadubbers In this cartoon there are four males and two females characters, in this cartoon the males are represented as more dominant and the females are very stereotypical in their colour. The females are also presented as being more passive and reliant on the male characters in the cartoon and the females have squeaky voices in the espisode. Angelina Ballerina In this cartoon girls are portrayed as girly and feminine, also the women appeared very domesticated in this cartoon. Thomas the tank This cartoon presented the male to be very strong, domineering and masculine and the males in this cartoon had the key roles in the cartoon. Discussion and conclusion It can be distinguished therefore from this study that television cartoons do however perpetuate traditional gender stereotypical social values, upon reflection the cartoons observed still reinforced them and representing them as natural. Implications The study portrays that the roles which women are given in cartoons are still stereotypical with women being portrayed as passive, feminine and they are less active and less domineering. Upon reflection this portrayal still perpetuates traditional gender stereotypes and presenting them as natural. The implications could be that girls observing television might perceive from such cartoons that it is not natural in society for women to have the main more domineering jobs in society and that the jobs which require a lot of strength are carried out by mostly males. Limitations However this study does have limitations as this is a small scale study if such research was to be enhanced it would be benefical to carry it out on a much larger scale with using vast number of participants and wider range of cartoons observed in order to get a much bigger scale of results. This report was a qualitative study which was an appropriate method as it ensured that it gives the persons perspective which was suited to this report. In conclusion it is recognised from previous studies (Witt 2000) that are children susceptible to what they observe on television therefore we must ensure that children are taught that gender is not all what it appears to be on television and the findings from this reports concurs that some cartoons are still stereotypical.