“Now You See ‘Em, Now You Don’t: Gender & Racial Disparity in TV for Children” analyzes the ratio of male and female characters in television shows created for young children and how frequently these characters occupy narrowly prescribed gender roles. The research shows that live-action children’s television programs have gone far in reducing gender and racial imbalance while they remain stubbornly entrenched in the rest of children’s entertainment, including
G-rated films and animated TV shows.

The data also revealed that:

• Three quarters of all the single, speaking characters on children’s television were White, giving young television viewers a distorted ethnic worldview.

• Male characters are less likely than female characters to be portrayed as parents or in a long-term relationship.

 • These gender and ethnic portrayals continue to influence what our youngest, most impressionable children expect from themselves and others.

 The research was commissioned by See Jane, a program founded by Academy Awardwinner Geena Davis at the national nonprofit Dads & Daughters ®.
See Jane engages professionals and parents to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters and to reduce gender stereotyping in media made for children 11 and under.

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Galactic Guardian! Champion of the Cosmos! Defender of the Milky Way!

Atomic Betty is a tiny, high energy, pre-pubescant girl with two distinct identities.
Firstly, her earth self is a school girl and tomboy who continually resists her mothers attempts for fashion makeovers.

Secondly, Betty’s galactic self is a space crusader and secret heroine in Admiral DeGill’s Galactic Council, where Betty defends the universe from evil aliens at every turn. Stylistically the animations have a retro look that reminds me of The Jetsons crossed with Powerpuff Girls.
See the ORIGINAL Atomic Betty trailer created by Atomic Cartoons back in 2000.

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In January, 2007, Geena Davis addresssed The National Conference for Media Reform of not only her experiences acting in Thelman and Louise and A League of Their Own, but importantly the gender disparity in G-rated Feature films including animated features.

Whilst watching television with her young daughter, Geena observed the lack of female roles in cartoons, animations and in general childrens programming. As a result Geena founded See Jane: a non-profit organisation that “seeks to engage professionals and parents in a call to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters - and to reduce gender stereotyping - in media made for children 11 and under.”

Watch Geena Davis below from YouTube:-

The Research: 
The See Jane organisation has completed extensive research on female roles in approx. 100 G-rated feature films and has subsequently released its findings in the paper: Where the Girls Aren’t: Gender Disparity Saturates G-Rated Films.

Key findings show that:

• In the 101 studied films, there are three male characters for every one female character.
• Fewer than one out of three (28 percent) of the speaking characters (both real and animated) are female.
• Fewer than one in five (17 percent) of the characters in crowd scenes are female.
• More than four out of five (83 percent) of the films’ narrators are male

“Gender equity has progressed in many ways, but male characters still dominate television, movies, and other media for young children. Since women and girls make up half of the human race, the presence of a wide variety of female characters in our children’s earliest media is essential for both girls’ and boys’ development.” from See Jane.org

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Chuck Jones, well-known Warner Brothers director said…

Question: did you ever consider having any of your characters female?
Chuck: “This always comes up. I’m sorry. I didnt, no. And even in live action,
you know, up until Dianne Keaton started working with Woody Allen,
there were very few female comedians in live action.
It’s a pity. I can only beat my breast and say that I should be nailed to the wall.
But I didn’t. So I don’t know how to answer that except to say I’m sorry.”

Jones, Chuck (1991). ‘What’s Up, Down Under?’ in Alan Cholodenko (Ed). The Illusion of Life: Essays on Animation. Sydney, Power Publications. P.64.

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Harley Quinn’s first comic book appearance was in The Batman Adventures #12, September 1993, then appeared in the seventh episode of  Batman: The Animated Series, Warner Bros.

Here we find Harley working as a psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum where met the Joker and fell in love with him during their therapy sessions. Harley helped the Joker to escape, her medical license was revoked and was placed in a cell of her own. Eventually Harley escaped the  Asylum herself, joining the Joker as his loyal side kick against arch enemy Batman.

What makes Harley Quinn a Superhero?

• Exploding Glove Gun.
• Rubber chicken.
• Stink bombs.
• Exploding cigars.
• Flying playing cards that serve as daggers.

Where are the Men of Gotham City?
See Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in the Gotham Girls. In an excellent series of web toons, the men of Gotham City disappear, leaving the women mayor and the acting commissioner in a struggle for power. Meanwhile Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy continue to loot the vacant Arkham Ayslum regardless.  This series illustrates Harley’s quirky humor and her hopeless infatuatuion with the Joker.

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From the creator of Spider Man and the Hulk, Stan Lee launched ‘Stripperella’ in 2003, an animated TV series.

Stripperella is Erotica Jones, a dancer/stripper by night and a superhero later at night. Voiced by Pamela Anderson (Baywatch fame) and acted as consultant to the series, Erotica Jones has big breasts, long legs and is always in a state of undress (as strippers are).

Graphic from

Comedy Central, 2003. In the nightclub where she works scenes exploit her sexuality with plenty of grinding moves, close-ups of breasts and panties as the girls work the pole dance.As her super self Stripperella, the exploitation of her curvaceous body continues. Tied, spread-eagled by villian Dr. Cesarean, the images border on the pornographic. No wonder it’s televised late at night!

What makes Stripperella a Superhero?

• Drives a motorcyle.
• Halo of blonde hair serves as a her flying power and parachute.
• Breasts serve as a lie detector when touched.
• Scissor leg move knocks down villians.

A short clip can be viewed at iFilm

See Stripperella @ Internet Movie Database

 

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The issue of how women are treated in comics is a contentious debate, yet like their male counterparts the women are superheroes, with powerfully strong bodies and ingenious specialty powers. Do the similarities end there?

Whilst women as superheroines in comics wear revealling and totally impractical costumes, it’s the sexual violence perpetuated against them that remains consistent and alarming.

Huntress - sexually abused and close to insanity. Karen Page - addicted to drugs, turned to making porn movies, contracted HIV and later died. MsMarvel/Warbird - under went mind-control, pregnant from rape and had her memories and powers stolen by Rogue. Starfire - raped, tortured, enslaved and forced into two marriages. Is it that the female superheroines in comics are merely supporting players that serve as plot devices to the male superhero quest? Is it that most comic creators are men, serving a male-dominated audience and is therfore an ideal vehicle for intense hostilities towards women? Is the misogyny part of a wider backlash that perceives loss of an established power base as women step-up and enter the public sphere more and more? REFRIGERATOR ALERT!