The Smurfette Principle

 
 

In 1992, Katharine Pollit proposed a theory that explored the role of females in contemporary cartoons. Specifically, she theorized that women are marginalized through the group dynamics of the shows' characters, as most cartoons feature a group of active males accented by a solitary, stereotypically defined female (Pollit 22).
 

She named the theory The Smurfette Principle, in honor of its most glaring example.

Pollit's theory is now over ten years old. Television in general seems to have become more pluralistic; openly homosexual characters dominate primetime sitcoms (Will and Grace), and ensemble dramas feature as many developed female characters as they do male (ER, CSI). These shows have certainly taken significant steps toward promoting sexual tolerance and equality, but, as programs targeted toward adults, are they too late? According to Pollit, our initiation into sexual politics begins at the preschool level, as we watch our favorite male characters reluctantly drag their token female buddies through their exciting, rough-and-tumble, masculine adventures.

We know adult programming is pushing sexual tolerance, but are we overlooking our most impressionable audience? This Web site examines whether we have really come as far as we think. Is The Smurfette Principle still an accurate paradigm for children's cartoons?

Cartoons: 1950s -1990s Cartoons: present Discussion/Conclusions Works Cited

This site was created for Dr. Newbold's English 213 class at Ball State University.
updated 4/30/04 by Lisa Swander