to think that Cbeebies is sexist

[noonki]

I have 3 DS's and get so annoyed at the portrayal of girls and women on Cbeebies.
The main things that rile me are

No. 1 - the token girls (upsa-daisy from In the Night Garden and Wendy in Bob the Builder for example)

No. 2 - The overload of leading males (Fireman sam, tommy zoom, bob the buider, pingu, sportacus, tellytubbies and the list can go on and on)

No. 3 - the amount of pink and frillyness worn by the girls (eg - The tweenies, upsadaisy, etc)

There are a few exceptions but only a few - check out the Cbeebies character page and just do a quick comparision...

does anyone else agree or am just feeling lost in my house of boys?

[cocolepew]

I thought Po and LaLa were girls? F Sam and Bob have females in it, not as a lead, but the men are complete divs and the women have to save the day. Just like real life.

[theinsider]

Nina (and the neurons) is a non-sterotypical role model.

[DisenchantedPlusBump]

You need to get out dear

[ReallyTired]

How do you know the sex of Pingu and the teletubbies. As far as I know they have no genitils. They are fairly assexual as far as I know.

I can think of plenty of programmes with leading females.

Ie. Nina and the Neurons, Mama Mirabel Home Movies, Step Inside, 64 Zoo Lane, Pinky Dinky Doo

I think you are seeing sexism where it simply doesn't exist.

[SilkCutMama]

Wendy is the only one who nows what to do...

.... Can we build it?

Not without Wendy we can't

Po and Lala are defo girls

[yama]

Hmmn, never noticed before.

I stop my dd from watching films in which females need rescuing or wear excessive pink.

Time to draft a stroppy letter .......?

[youfoolwoman]

-The Dr in Me Too is a woman.
-Female firefighter in Fireman Sam.
-Female bus driver in Ballamory
-surely the lead character in Lazy Town is (the admittedly pink) girl.

I think they almost go too far the other way actually, in that they have women in roles that in real life you would hardly ever see them in. When's the last time you saw a female builder? and she's the one who always sorts the mess out

The pink frilliness is a reflection of real life too unfortunately. Have you ever walked through the girls clothing section at Asda/Next/M&S.....?

[noonki]

I'm not saying there are no leading females or that there are no girls in the programmes just that it is no way 50 / 50 ,

and surely it should be

[edam]

I agree with you, Noonki. AND why have they got three male presenters to one female? Is there some agenda there - perhaps to do with the lack of men in childcare?

[Habbibu]

Male penguins are very good role models - equal shares in childcare, and all that.

[noonki]

phew! I thought I was the only one

[youfoolwoman]

Surely if it was to do with the lack of men in childcare, all the presenters would be women?

TBH, I think, with the presenters they're too busy making sure all ethnic groups are represented to make sure they've got the right number of men/women too.

[edam]

Lead character in Lazytown is clearly Sportacus, btw!

There may be a woman in Fireman Sam, but it's still Fireman Sam. And Postman Pat. And Engine Benjie or whatever it is.

[edam]

No, I mean perhaps they are trying to redress the balance.

[cocolepew]

Most of the male characters are gay, so this evens it out. Except I can't think of any gay female characters, so that's unfair

[noonki]

YFW - they are all token characters again

[missmollymoo]

Oh for gods sake. I can't believe you are arsed. Turn it off it bothers you.

[cocolepew]

You do know that machinery can't really talk don't you?

[noonki]

I just think they pick up so much from tv that I should be arsed,

they don't watch a huge amount but so many kids do and it seems to be wrong that the messages they get are so strong

[ReallyTired]

"Most of the male characters are gay, so this evens it out. Except I can't think of any gay female characters, so that's unfair "

I missed something, I never realised that CBeebies had gay characters.

I think you are seeing things that aren't there. They are programmes for under sixes.

Life gets more depressing your child wants to watch something really awful like Tracy Beaker.

[cocolepew]

It was meant tongue in cheek.

[wannaBe]

I hate to break this to you but...

...actually perhaps you ought to be sitting down for this...

...

...

... It isn't real.

[SilkCutMama]

I thought Edie McCredie was gay??

(Or is that alcoholic? I can never remember)

[theinsider]

Whatever your (or anyones') complaints about c-beebies would you prefer life without it?

Just comtemplating that makes me feel very scared...

[missmollymoo]

If you think your pre school child has the ability to pick up sexist issues from watching the tele then i'm gobsmacked. You must have it on a fair bet to be armed with all the info. Again, turn it off if you think they are affected.