While watching cartoons with young children, few parents' notice how gender is represented. However, considering the long-term impression children's programming leaves on a person, the issue is worth observation. One famous mother of three did take notice and is taking action.
Geena Davis (54) was watching cartoons with her now 7-year-old daughter, Alizeh Keshvar, when she began to notice a huge gender gap in the characters. In response to her suspicions, Davis created the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media in 2007. Studies completed by the institute revealed three male characters for every one female character in children’s films, a statistic that has been present in media since 1947 according to further research by the Institute.
As a result of her efforts, Davis was invited to deliver the keynote address at the United Nations Economic and Social Council event “Engaging Philanthropy to Promote Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.” She said in her speech: “At the dawn of a new millennium, in a world that is over 50% female, the message the media sends is that women and girls have far less value than men and boys.” She also said that the vast majority of female characters "are stereotyped and hyper-sexualized."
Do you see a gender gap on your child’s favorite TV shows or movies? How are the female characters depicted?
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