How ideologies have reduced the types of heroes in American Cartoons
Today there are many different types of cartoons aimed both to children and adults. Many of the American cartoons seen today have something that makes them popular and they gather large fanbases. However, after taking a closer look at some of them there is something that all of them share that has prevented a larger variety of cartoons. In some of the currently popular American cartoons such as The Amazing World of Gumball, Rick and Morty, and The Loud House the one thing they all have in common is that the main character or hero is male.
At first, glance looking at these cartoons we don’t think much about who is the main character. If we do notice that they are male we don’t question it. In society, it is normal for the main character to be male. Looking at any story, in most cases, the main character will turn out to be male. This is what my class would call a hegemonic idea. A hegemonic idea is an idea that gains cultural dominance and they help us make sense of our reality. It makes sense that the hero is male and not a female because of the ideologies that surround male dominance. A male is seen to be strong and powerful that can do the ‘saving the day’ part. Females, however, are not seen like that instead they are shown to dainty and fragile that need to be saved.
In an article about main characters in children stories, it expresses how the lack of female main characters can give the message of women playing a less important role in society than males. In regards to cartoons, the lack of female main characters may also show to the female viewers that they can’t save the day and they can’t be the hero. The lack of female main characters might also make them feel that they have to fit the ‘female role’ that is shown in many characters.
However, there are some American cartoons that do have a female character that plays the role of the hero or protagonist. One such cartoon is Star vs. The Forces of Evil but how the character, Star, is depicted leaves the desire for a much rounder and well-developed character. Star usually solves her problems by using her magic, she rarely uses a well-thought plan to solve issues. When she gets into trouble it’s her friend Marco that helps fix everything. Another cartoon with a female lead is My Little Pony Friendship is magic in this cartoon there is a variety of female leads that many female viewers can relate to.
Looking outside of the United States we can find other cartoons with good female main characters. The French animated show Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir has a strong female character lead that many female viewers can relate with. Another show from Japan called Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card has a strong female lead who is the one that saves the day playing the part of the hero. With new cartoons coming out soon such as She-Ra there seems to be an increasing demand for the main character to be female.
