Week#6 Gender ,Cartoons,Television

So, these days whenever I have the TV on it is usually on the Nick Jr channel. My daughter has joined the ranks of preschoolers that loves Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go, and The Backyardigans, and recently added to the list is Kai-lan. Many of have you have commented on gender messages that you have seen in sitcoms or drama series like Sex in the City or Grey's Anatomy. How about cartoons? What are your thoughts about the gender messages that are coming through these shows? And, how have these messages changed from when you were a child and watched cartoons? Recently, even Sesame Street introduced a new female character named AbbyCadabby after years of male characters moving to Sesame Street. Dora is an explorer, and with her side kick Boots the monkey they take on adventures! My daughter is learning a lot of words and images, music from this show but what messages about gender? Dora isn't the sidekick but leads the adventures. She figures things out and solves problems as her famous line at the end of the show says "we did it". Kai-lan is another female lead. I watch her as she watches these shows and I am wondering what is she really learning here. What messages about how to think, act, behavior is she absorbing? I like the idea of female leads in these shows as I never had cartoons or really any children's programming when I was a child. (Actuallly, Sesame Street didn't come into existence until I was about 12 y ears old. So, do you think cartoons are adhering to gender stereotypes or are we breaking new ground? What are the words, dress and other nonverbals seen in these characters? How about the storylines? Many women have remarked in journal entries and posts that you weren't allowed to play rough in "boy" play when you were younger. Dora climbs mountains, swings from ropes, and jumps over alligators, and even rides on the backs of dolphins! she dresses in shorts but has a little bracelet on. Wears sneakers but wears clothes that are purple (girl) and orange(boy).
Do you think cartoons are early messages to our preschoolers about gender? If so, what are these messages.

Prof.M's Week #1 Business Class Post

Mother's Day is it only for women?

Yesterday I celebrated my second Mother's Day. And, I reflected on the language of the word Mother. Are mothers only woman? And, are they only woman related to the child or children? I went to a buy a card for the wonderful woman who watches my daughter while I am at R.U. teaching and it wasn't easy to find a card. I finally found a card that said something about being a caregiver. This woman loves my child and "mothers" my daughter while I am not there. It made me think of all those men that stay home and "mother" the child and same sex couples and grandparents that have taken over the role of raising or loving a child or children during the day. Where are their cards? We have seen terms to describe partners in relationships over the years grow and change, such as "significant other" or "relational partner" or instead of marriage, terms such as "committted relationship" or "monogamous relationship". Is there another word that we can use to describe all the wonderful people whether men or women, whether biologically related or not, that love and help raise children? I reflected on how my gender identity ties in to my role of a mother. Our family does adhere to the culturally based definitions of a mother being a woman and a father being a male. Our roles are tied to the masculine and feminine sterotypcial qualities of a mother and father which maybe perpetuates the cultural definition of each of these roles? I know that when I go outside the stereotypcial definition of what it means to be a "good mom", I feel as though I have failed as a mom or feel guilty that I have let my daughter down. If I had another term like parental caretaker would I have different expecations and a different self view of how well I was raising my daughter? Would she grow up and develop a self view that says she is more than just her feminine characteristics? I will ponder on this idea for awhile. What are your thoughts? What life experience have you seen or experienced this week that illustrates a gender issue in your life?