AIBU to think there should be sex equality in children’s programmes?

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

It pisses me off that there are so many male characters to female. For example:
PJ Masks - 2 boys: 1 girl
Go Jetters - 3 boys/1 male unicorn: 1 girl
Paw Patrol - 6(?) male dogs: 2 female dogs
Octonauts - 5 male : 3 female (assuming the vegetable is a girl)

Why are we reinforcing male as the default?

(Yes, I do have better things to worry about, no I don’t think it’s the greatest injustice in the world, yes, I think the absence of racial diversity and visible disability is also a problem).

I used to notice this with the Lego Friends cartoons amongst others. Being “ditsy” seems to be how girls are expected to behave.

@Temp123999

I honestly wouldn't want my son to be a teacher or nurse as the pay is awful

I don't want my daughter to be a teacher or nurse as the pay is poor and they get treated like shit.

On and male teachers/nurses tend to be the managers who earn more than the women they manage e.g. vertical segregation.

@Natsku

That's why I like the Moomins, pretty even mix of male and female characters and the female ones aren't just support characters. My toddler son pretty much exclusively watches it as he is obsessed. Bluey is another good one, though my daughter is convinced Bluey is a boy because Bluey is blue...

ooh, where can you find Moomins? I used to love the cartoons - maybe I can interest DS.

I’m not picking on her @thecatsthecats, it wasn’t a criticism, more an observation! I do wonder if Harry Potter would have been as successful with female lead. Although some stories with female leads, the Hunger Games, for example, seems to have a pretty wide appeal, so maybe I’m wrong.

Also, whether it was her decision to publish as JK or Joanne is not really the point. Somebody decided that it was best to not make it obvious she was female. I just think it’s interesting that choice was made.

@Morred Just had a look, the english dub ones are on youtube (DS watches in Finnish, which aren't on youtube any more for some reason but we have a tv channel that still plays them). They're such nice cartoons too, wholesome and imaginative (though there is that episode with the magic mushrooms...)

You should read the book invisible women by Caroline Perez ... male dominance is everywhere.

I agree @SunshineLollipopsRainbow - it should be a must read for everyone as it's such an eye opener and makes you realise just how biased against women the entire world actually is and how even medicine & misdiagnoses are because of the bias.

Ok, I’ve just bought invisible women by Caroline Perez

Alphablocks and numberblocks don’t have genders I think. Also love biggleton where the kids have adult jobs. They have a female doctor, firefighter and business woman.

@Parkermumma07 they change voices. So the number blocks can add or split and then change from male to female or vice versa.

My DD's loved Dora the Explorer, is that still on? When they got older it was the Disney channel (Hannah Montana and wizards of Waverley place were favs)

JoJo and Gran Gran is fab!

There are loads the other way though. Bluey, bitz and bob, katie morag, dora, butterbeans cafe, nella the princess knight, doc mcstuffins, abby hatcher, bubble guppies, barbie dreamhouse, little ponies, ladybug and cat noir, jojo and gran gran...

There are loads of female centric/dominant childrens shows. My DD5 likes Doc McStuffins, Bitz and Bob, Elena of Avalor, Swashbuckle, Sofia The First and (the shite) Barbie Dreamhouse especially, but there are plenty more.

It is a bit disturbing there are no children's programs the other way around at all.

Do y'all not get Bluey? It's Australian so I thought you might. Bluey, Bingo, Muffin, and Socks are all girls. Plus Bluey's mom and aunt.