Carly Jensen Response to Presentations

  Having watched and prepared my own presentation on children’s television, I was not surprised by most of what was presented. I too noticed how underrepresented females were on almost every children’s television show. All of presentations accurately identified clothing, voice, and social actions as the areas where gender was socialized. Similar to the presenters I found that female television characters are extremely gendered, and this is even more apparent in children’s programs where the gender of each character’s gender is essential to the plot line. I like how Tina pointed put that for some characters, especially personified objects, gender is their only defining character trait.

            What I found particularly interesting was the contrast between the programs on Disney and PBS versus the programs on Nick Jr. Personally I was never allowed to watch Nick Jr. because my parents felt the themes were inappropriate and too simplified. From the presentations I gather that the characters on Nick compared to the characters on PBS have less personal characterization and are more “in your face” regarding their themes and behaviors. I think this was most obvious through Blair’s analysis of the “ Fairly Odd Parents” and Gracie’s investigation of “ Max and Ruby”. All of these characters both female and male are underdeveloped and depend on simplistic traits such as gender instead of personality or individuality. This is shown by the fact that major bits of information are missing from “ Max and Ruby”, like their parents. Or the fact that Timmy’s parents are present but at the same time absent and un-essential to the plot line. This highlights how Nick Jr. overly simplifies their shows causing gender to become more apparent and more gender norms to be taught. This I felt leads to a stronger need to give gender to objects that did not necessarily need gender, like Dora’s backpack. It is also important to realize that almost every show over represented the male characters. Each presentation noted that it was a male who was the leader or narrator of the show and not a female. This speaks to that fact, that children’s television shows are teaching its viewers that it is normal for a male to be dominating and females to be secondary. I also realized that all the character’s clothing was gendered. This gendering is not just in the color of clothing, but in accessories, shoes, and type of clothing. For instance in “ Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” there is no reason for Minnie and Daisy to be wearing heels and dresses, if they are going on adventures. All of the female characters are confined by their clothing, and it is their appearance that is focused on.

            In re-watching different children’s shows and listening to all the presentations I realize that the hidden curriculum that is being taught through preschool is also being taught in television programs.  Gender norms are introduced to the viewers from a young age and allowing for children to learn and model their behaviors off the characters in their favorite television shows. Much of a child’s behaviors and attitudes are model after their surroundings. Children’s programing has a huge impact on these attitudes and behaviors.