The Influence of Cartoons on Children

Paper Summary:

The paper shows that despite the advances of women in society, there has been virtually no change in the presentation of female characters in cartoons. Poor portrayal of females in cartoons continues to this day and it is having a harmful effect on children, instilling stereotypes that can last a lifetime. The paper examines and analyzes several studies done on the subject to show that the media is doing a disservice to women and minority groups by portraying them the way they do. Finally, the paper argues that the networks have a social responsibility to readdress the issue.

From the Paper:

"Another study published in 1990 in Sociology and Social Research by Linda Mooney and Sarah Brabant looked at the portrayal of boys and girls in six nationally syndicated comic strips. The purpose of this study was to look at how boys and girls were portrayed, the activities that they partook in and their interactions with their parents. The study used three examples of cartoons that featured dual-parent traditional families (father-breadwinner, mother-homemaker), and three settings in which a single mother worked. The cartoons were collected over a six month period in 1984 and were analyzed. The results of the study showed that children in single-mother homes were portrayed much differently than children in a traditional home. According to the study, sons appeared more frequently in single-woman strips, sons overall appeared outside the home more often then daughters did. Children in dual-income homes or traditional homes were pictured inside more often."

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