Where are the heroines in toddlers cartoons?

[Fabulosososo]

It could just be the cartoons that DS (age 2) is in to, but all the heroes are male. I'm particularly looking at cartoons for toddlers. So we've got Thomas the tank engine, firemen Sam, chuck & friends, postman pat. Where are the female fire fighters, trucks, trains, postwomen? There seems a particular lack of female characters doing jobs (postman, fireman, policeman etc.) and rescuing others. It all seems a bit old fashioned and sexist. There is Care Bears and my little ponies that have a lot of female characters but there seem to be less heroines. As DD gets more into to I'd like her to watch somethin that makes her feel like she can do all these things too. Ideally a cartoon that has both a male hero and a female heroine in equal measure. Does anyone know of any good cartoons like that? We have CBeebies tiny pop and Netflix.

I think it depends on what cartoons/shows your DC prefer.
DS 3.5 likes
Team Umizoomi (Mili)
Chloes Closet (amazon prime)
Bitz and bobs (Bitz)
Katies Amazing Machines
Do you know (female presenter Maddie)
His favourite film is Kikis delivery service

He also loves Blaze and ITNG

Once, when my son was ill and just wanted cuddling on the sofa with Cbeebies, I started counting the female to male ratios of characters in the shows, not even the leads, just the characters. It was utterly depressing and I was glad when he finally threw up on my lap and I had an excuse to get away from it for a bit! If you start looking at what the characters actually do and how they act (males - do stuff, make stuff, go on adventures, brave and strong; females - sing, dance, 'boss' people around, sulk) it gets really grim.
Admittedly, we have moved past Cbeebies now, so I am not down with the current crop of shows, but the truly appaling 'Everything's Rosie' will forever be etched into my mind as a special kind of hell.

Stephen Universe (and it has a great theme song) is full of powerful female characters.

Nella the Princess Knight
Doc Mcstuffins
Bitz
Peppa
Ladybug
Kate and Mim
Everythings Rosie
Katie Morag
My little pony
Sofia
My Little Pony
Sarah and Duck
Nelly and Nora
Moon and Me
Dora
Abby Hatcher
Butterbean
64 Zoo Lane
Yakka Dee
Molly and Mack
Melody

‘There really aren’t any’ erm there are LOADS of kids cartoons currently on with a female lead!

Sadly I don’t have any suggestions, I didn’t start noticing female strong protagonists/heroes in cartoons until I got the age of 9 or so and discovered things like Sailor Moon (basically all female power rangers in a way), Cardcaptors, Studio Ghibli films etc.

For a toddler I’d say (depending on your DD’s disposition) My Neigbour Totoro and Ponyo are good, I’ve always loved Srudio Ghibli’s way of handling female protagonists, rather than having super powers their strengths are more drawn from their individuality and strength of character which I hope my own DD will enjoy when she gets a bit older :D

Sorry, haven’t RTFT but on TV...
Zuli in GoJetters
Sarah in Sarah and Duck
Ladybug in Miraculous
The science expert character in Octonauts
Sky in Paw Patrol

I think the one token female who is really well behaved and wears pink is almost more annoying than no female character (paw patrol I'm looking at you).

Pj masks doesn't have the balance right but Owlette gets to be wrong as much as the boys and it has a female villain.

Second miraculous ladybug - early seasons are on Netflix. Lots of female characters and definitely watchable for grown ups. And agree that rescue bots has some good female characters.

Netflix also has new she ra but my boys won't watch it.

Zuli in Go Jetters
Owlette in PJ Masks
Sofia the first
Doc mcstuffins
Skye and Everest in Paw Patrol
Bitz and Bob (STEM show on CBeebies)
Lily in Peter Rabbit

Oh yeah And Dashi and Tweak in Octonauts.