What is wrong with Toy Story?

When my sons were little they loved watching Thomas the Tank Engine on DVD, we watch it for enjoyment.  I, nor my sons, cared about the number of male characters to female characters, however, as we know, it worried the feminist movement who complained about the lack of female characters and that most were relegated to secondary roles. (only eight of the 49 main characters in the current Thomas shows are female).

Toy Story 3 was last week, a children’s movie that my 22 year old son went to see and one which he thoroughly enjoyed.  However I wonder if he noticed the ratio of male to females characters, no he didn’t.  In case you haven’t either, there is a ratio of seven males to one female.  O dear.   It also contains a “nagging” mother (getting cross at her 17 year old son) and a "hyper-feminine" and "overly emotional" Barbie.  Yes, you have guessed it, feminists are complaining that the family film is sexist or to be more correct “careless sexism” (not a term I have heard before) and that it may damaged children.  I better warn my son that he might have been damaged from watch this G rated movie. To quote the magazine who is complaining: "Kids who grow up watching sexist shows are more likely to grow up internalising stereotypical ideas of what men and women are supposed to be like."   That would be the one of mum wearing pretty dresses and caring for the baby whilst dad going off to work, we can't have that.
 
The article also argues that the film is homophobic in its depiction of the doll Ken as a "closeted gay fashionista with a fondness for writing in sparkly purple ink", stating that: "Pairing homophobia with misogyny, the jokes about Ken suggest that the worst things a boy can be are either a girl or a homosexual." What ever that is meant to mean.
 
Do children pay attention to this sort of thing. No, they don’t and I very much doubt that watching Toy Story and Thomas the Tank Engine will damage any child.   Have these women nothing better to do, but count female characters in a child’s movie and be concern about young girls "internalize gender role stereotypes".  How very sad. 


Comments

  1. Sounds like the noddy/enid blyton hoo~ha in the 70s. What a lot of drivel!

    apologies for the lack of capitals but kirby is sleeping on my other arm & now i'm the one armed bandit. :)

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  2. How very sad indeed! I would think there would be far more pressing things to worry about, like who's taking care of the kids, and why so many women feel they will be "fulfilled" if they embrace traditional male roles. Just a thought...

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  3. Oh pleeeeze!!!! find those magazines something newsworthy to write about!
    Interestingly, looking at the pic you have above, Bo Peep, Jessie and Mrs Potato Head just about cover the spectrum of role models. Don't you think (winks)

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  4. oh wow, how pathetic! I had never heard of anyone bothering to count the females in Thomas the Tank Engine or any other show/book... I had heard about the "Fat controller" of course... But COME ON, people! Get a REAL hobby! Kids could not care less, and Thomas is LOVED by boys and girls alike, so what is the big deal?? Haven't seen the Toy Story one, but this seems ridiculous! What next?

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  5. My son loved Thomas the Tank engine. And both my children loved Toy Story. In fact, my daughter bought Toy Story and it's sequel on dvd the other day! LOL And, she doesn't have any identity crisis ;)

    Yep, some people have way too much time on their hands I think.

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  6. Ganeida - I am so glad Kirby is involved in blogging!!

    Ruby - I love Mrs Potato Head, her husband just wouldn't cope without her. Jessie is very amusing and quite the tom boy.

    Clara - kids just don't think of these things and nor should they.

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  7. We are going to watch toy story tomorrow, yay!

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  8. We loved that movie and it's so sad that people just don't have anything better to complain about. I mean I could think of a few things.... LOL!

    I'm hoping that when it comes out on DVD that they have all 3 together because we have the first 2 on VHS.
    Have a fabulous day.
    Kim

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