The Smurfette Principle

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The Smurfette Principle In this short, thorough essay, Pollitt makes a strong point that there are stereotype in the media. More importantly, the stereotypes are shown in children’s cartoons, movies, and books. She mentions how nine out of ten programs have a male as the main hero character and the female is usually the sidekick. This shows just a little hint that sexism exists in children’s culture, and Pollitt expounds this point in her argument. What is “The Smurfette Principle?” Pollitt explains it as, “a group of male buddies will be accented by a lone female, stereotypically defined” (545). In “The Smurfette Principle,” Pollitt argues that media directed towards children hurts them by stereotyping girls as inferior characters, which she ties together with strong, effective logos and pathos to support and give her ethos credibility. The logos are strong supports to the ethos by giving several familiar examples in children’s movies, shows, and books where the female has an inferior role to the male’s role. Pollitt describes more on “The Smurfette Principle” by saying: In the worst cartoons—the ones that blend seamlessly into the animated cereal commercials—the female is usually a little-sister type, a bunny in a pink dress and hair ribbons who tags along with the adventurous bears and badgers. But the Smurfette principle rules the more carefully made shows too (545). Pollitt goes on to explain how most shows are filled with male characters such as, “Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and the rest of the all-male Warner Brothers lineup” (545). Another strong, supporting example is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There are four turtles teaming up fighting as heroes, then there’s April, who seems merely hopeless in protecting herself from the evil Shredder. Whether it be Muppet Babies with baby Piggy as the only female, or Winnie-the-Pooh with Kanga

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