Sweet Girls and Tough Boys: An Analysis of Gender Representations in Children’s Cartoon Shows

Abstract

This study explores gender representations in children's entertainment media and the ratio of male and female characters in terms of their active roles and personality traits. A comprehensive latent and manifest content analysis technique was used to analyze 34 hours of data taken from Disney, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. Male representation was considerably high, with a ratio of 68% compared to female roles, which is 32%. Females were presented provocatively, showing off their beauty and physique, emotionally dependent on males, and constantly seeking their validation for survival. Female characters were primarily concerned about their looks and social status. On the other hand, male characters are deeply involved in their career, exhibiting their physical and emotional strength in a way that being a male is one of the great blessings they have.