WOMEN AS SEXUAL OBJECTS IN CARTOONS

 

 

 

          

    Picture 1: Smurfette          Picture 2: Betty Boop      Picture 3: Popeye and Olive

 

 

1. DEFINITION

 

 

We all watch or we used to watch cartoons. If we look closely we can see how the roles of women and men characters are very different and precisely chosen. Men are mostly strong and brave (superheroes or very close to them) and on the other side are women – mothers, house-keepers and very often sexy but brainless. We see this kind of representation of women as a problem of stereotypes and sexism, which is so deeply rooted in Western societies that finding a solution is not an easy job.

Three of the most obvious representations of women as sexual objects in cartoons are Smurfette (Smurfs), Olive (Popeye) and Betty Boop. They are all very pretty with long legs, perfect skin and hair, dressed in mini-skirts. However, with the exception of being pretty, they have no other major role in their cartoons – they are not intelligent – and the typical answer is: she is a woman, she is pretty (and that should be enough)(Bevk, 2004). Our goal is to research this problem and try to find out about women's opinion on this matter and offer a solution.

 

 

2. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

 

 

1. What is sexism (against women in particular)?

    

2. What is sexual objectification (against women – definition and characteristics of women or female cartoon characters seen as sexual objects)?

    

3. Why, when and how did this phenomena happen?

    

4. What effects did it bring?   

    

5. What kind of roles do women in cartoons have (beside the role of a sexual object)?

    

6. Which famous female cartoon characters are presented and consequently widely seen as sexual objects and which their characteristics indicate that particular perspective of judging them by?

    

7. What effects, if any, does this kind of representation of women in cartoons, have on primary consumers of cartoons-children?

    

8. What is the situation, about women seen as sexual objects in cartoons, in Slovenia?

    

9. How, if possible, could be this representation of women as sexual objects in cartoons, on television and nevertheless in everyday life, interrupted and modified?

    

 

3. DISTRIBUTION OF TASKS

 

Deja: Question 1 and 2

Nataša: Question 3 and 4

Teja: Question 5 and 6

Urška: Question 7 and 8

Katja: Question 9

4. LITERATURE

• Monograph publications:

1. Bevk, Mateja (2004): Ženski liki v risankah. Diplomska dela FDV, Ljubljana.

    

2. Jogan, Maca (2001): Seksizem v vsakdanjem življenju. Ljubljana: Znanstvena knjižica FDV.

3. Thompson, Teresa L. and Zebrinos, Eugenia (1997): Television Cartoons: Do Children Notice It's a Boy's World. Sex Roles.

4. Verša, Dorotea (1996): Zbirka za enake možnosti žensk in moških: Medijska podoba spolov. Ljubljana: Vlada Republike Slovenije, Urad za žensko politiko.

5. Witt, Susan (1997): Parental Influence on Children's Socialization to Gender Roles.

• Internet sources:

1. Blubuddies (2008): 4- http://bluebuddies.com/help/smurfette_created_by_gargamel.htm   (accessed 10 March 2008)

    

2. Eik, Kelly (1998): Gender Stereotypes in Children's Television Cartoons. http://cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba/495/papersS98/paper1.html (accessed 10 March 2008)
3. Wikipedia (2008): Betty Boop: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Boop(accessed 10 March 2008)
4. Wikipedia (2008): Flapper: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flapper(accessed 10 March 2008)
5. Wikipedia (2008): Olive Oyl: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Oyl(accessed March 2008)
6. Wikipedia (2008): Papa Smurf: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_Smurf(accessed 10 March 2008)
7. Wikipedia (2008): Popeye: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye (accessed 21 February 2008)
8. Wikipedia (2008): Sexual objectification: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_objectification (accessed: 2 March 2008)
9. Wikipedia (2008): Smurfette:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smurfette (accessed 21 February 2008)
10. Wikipedia (2008): Smurfs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smurfs(accessed 10 March 2008)

     

11. Winn, Jim (2002): Sexism and culture in television. http://www.bluedojo.com/papers/sexism/  (accessed 10 March  2008)
12. Questia (2008):  Macdonald, Myra: Representing Women - Myths of femininity in the popular media. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102121721# (accessed 10 March 2008)

     

• Sources of pictures:

    Picture 1: Smurffete, http://nileeysphere.blogspot.com/2007/06/eihgties-cartoons-flashback-1-cute.html

    Picture 2: Betty Boop, http://sitemaker.umich.edu/portfolio.goamy/files/hello-betty-boop-web.jpg

    Picture 3: Popeye and Olive, http://www.isteve.com/images/popeye-oliveoyl-trimmed.JPG

 

 

 

5. GLOSSARY

 

 

Discrimination – diskriminacija, zapostavljanje

Double - edge sword - dvorezni meč

Feminism – feminizem

Inferior – manjvreden, podrejen

Objectification – objektifikacija

Patriarchy – patriarhat

Representation – reprezentacija

Sexism – seksizem

Subvert - spodkopavati, zavreči 

susceptible- dovzeten, podvržen

Gender inequality – spolna neenakost

Sexual objectification – seksualna objektifikacija

Stereotype – stereotip

 

 

 

 6. MINUTES OF MEETINGS

 

 

Minutes of the 1st meeting »Problem Based Learning Project«

 

held on 21 February, 2008 at FDV 27

 

 

 

Present: Deja, Teja, Nataša, Urška, Katja

 

Absent: /

 

 

 

Agenda:

 

 

 

1. Select the topic and define the problem

2. Write the questions

3. Any other business

 

 

 

 

Item 1:

 

Discussion: After we formed our group and chose the name of the group, we started with selecting the topic. At first our ideas were heterogeneous. Katja and Urška proposed to deal with family violence, which is significant problem in Slovenia. Nataša suggested to discuss about violence and other influences which are caused by media, but some members of the group had a few reservations about that topic.

 

 

 

Decision: In spite of that, we were still focused on media problems. Then Teja and Deja got a great idea. They recommended a topic which is in connection with stereotypes about women represented via cartoons. We were all in favour of that topic, and that is why we all accepted this theme.

 

 

 

Item 2:

 

 

 

Discussion: When Urška did an internet search, and we were all more informed about our problem, we formed a short definition of our problem. After that each of us suggested some research questions about our theme.

 

 

 

Decision: We used computer and wrote down questions and definition of our problem.

 

 

 

Item 3:

 

Discussion: When we finally did our task, Deja proposed that we should find more literature about our theme until next meeting. Teja and Urška suggested to hold our next meeting on Thursday, 28 February, 2008 at 10 AM at FDV 27.

 

 

 

 

 

Decision: Deja, Nataša and Katja agreed with proposal.

 

 

 

The next meeting will be on Thursday, 28 February, 2008 at 10 AM at FDV 27.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes taker: Nataša and Teja

 

 

 

Chair: Deja

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes of the 2^nd meeting »Problem Based Learning Project«

 

held on 28 February, 2008 at FDV 27

 

 

 

Present: Deja, Teja, Nataša, Urška, Katja

 

Absent: /

 

 

 

Agenda:

 

 

 

1. Distribution of tasks

 

2. List of literature

 

3. Any other business

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1:

 

Discussion: First of all we talked about our research questions. We started with distribution of research questions, which were formed last week.

 

 

 

Decision: Each of us will be focused on two questions, with the exception of Katja. She will be focused on the last, the most difficult question. We decided that each of us should think about our questions until the next meeting. That is how we will be able to make progress in our PBL. Of course, we decided to help each other with answers.

 

 

 

Item 2:

 

Discussion: As we agreed last week, we found some relevant literature about our theme. Deja and Teja did an internet search and found a list of  literature about gender stereotypes. Nataša found some relevant internet links.

 

 

 

Decision: Urška and Katja will look for standards about writing the literature review and they will also write down some sources, which will be used in our PBL.

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3:

 

Discussion: We talked about our empirical work. Nataša suggested to think about this until the next meeting. Teja and Urška suggested to hold our next meeting on Thursday, 6 March, 2008 at 10 AM at FDV 27.

 

 

 

 

 

Decision: We all agreed with proposals.

 

 

 

The next meeting will be on Thursday, 6 March, 2008 at 10 AM at FDV 27.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes taker: Nataša

 

 

 

Chair: /

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes of the 3^rd meeting »Problem Based Learning Project«

 

held on 6 March, 2008 at FDV 27

 

 

 

Present: Deja, Teja, Nataša, Urška, Katja

 

Absent: /

 

 

 

 

Agenda:

 

 

 

1. Action- item follow up

 

2. Glossary

 

3. Any other business

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1:

 

 

Discussion: At the beginning we talked about our empirical work and literature. Katja and Nataša suggested to form a questionnaire. Other members of the group did not agree with an idea.

 

 

 

 

Decision: Because the date of our presentation is coming up, we decided to do a secondary analysis on the base of information and researches which already exist. That is how we will investigate. With help of literature and empirical work, we will be able to reject or confirm our thesis. 

 

 

 

Item 2:

 

 

Discussion: Each of us proposed some Slovenian terms in connection with our theme. We should translate them into English language.

 

 

 

 

Decision: We decided to distribute our work. That is why each of us should write down two words and find an English translations. After that we will add the list of glossary on wiki page.

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3:

 

 

Discussion: Our PBL is progressing, but Deja proposed to improve our visual part of wiki side.

 

 

 

 

Decision: We all agreed with proposal. We also decided to discuss about our PBL via internet in the future. In next two weeks we will write all parts of the report.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes taker: Nataša

 

 

 

Chair: /