'Gender imbalance in children's animation needs correction'
Chae Su-jeong
By Lee Kyung-min
Children’s cartoon that casually portray women in the context that normalizes gender-stereotyped discrimination needs immediate correction to help them form ideas without the filter of inequality, an official at a gender equality promotion organization said, Friday.
“Children learn negative stereotypes usually between the ages of six and seven, according to the Korean Educational Psychology Association,” she said. “It is highly feared they will internalize discriminatory attitudes from the cartoons which can continue into later life, never knowing what is wrong or why.”
The urgent call follows a recent study by the institute, which identified various forms of discriminatory gender stereotypes in cartoons. According to the study of 112 children’s cartoons available on online platforms between June 1 and 7, only 31.9 percent of the 920 characters were female. Of 306 leading characters, only about a third, or 108, were female.
In one show, “Uncle Grandpa,” a male character was seen in a pool with two female characters, and said “I was having a great time with two beautiful chicks,” which the institute said was suggestive of women helping the man with sexual gratification. In another show, two male characters said, “Meeting a girl is like riding a horse. If you fall off, then you have to get right back on a different one.” Referring to women, the character said, “You know what? Over half in the sea are fish. Half water, half fish.”
“These remarks are highly inappropriate as they imply women are sexual objects and something that can be owned,” Chae said.
In another cartoon, two male characters are portrayed as innovative creators who do not give up in the face of insurmountable, daunting tasks, while the activities of female characters are limited to domestic chores including cooking and cleaning. Female characters in another show were seen to compete for male attention by being coy and resorting to sex appeal, a gravely problematic depiction that perpetuates female dependency on men, Chae said.
Such discrimination-fueling programs should be immediately changed, she said. “For example, Mattel, the producer of Thomas & Friends, one of the most popular British children’s TV shows airing in more than 110 countries in 33 languages, added new ethnically diverse female characters.”
The program added Nia, an orange engine from Africa, and Rebecca, a yellow engine, following advice from Tolulope Lewis-Tamoka, the United Nations Women’s Africa Program adviser. This was in response to criticism that all the main characters _ Thomas, James, Edward, Henry, Gordon, Percy and even the Fat Controller _ were male. Mattel also collaborated with the U.N. to incorporate five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production and life on land.
“The overhaul that began recently is arguably the most significant transformation since the TV version of the series first broadcast in 1984,” Chae said. “I hope Korea’s TV programs adopt similar policies that enhance gender sensitivity.”