Gender Equality in Smurf Village

Bandura’s studies on behaviorism indicate that children’s initial ideas about good and bad behavior come from observing the social standards displayed by models with whom they identify. (Cole & Cole, 2001) Although, live adults models in the child’s life are the most influential, they also learn about societal norms from the television programs they watch.
I chose to critique two animated programs for this assignment: “The Smurfs,� a popular Saturday morning cartoon in the 1980’s, and “The Powerpuff Girls,� a current program on the cable station Cartoon Network.
The Smurfs is a program about a race of mythical blue creatures who stand “three apples high.� They live in a sort of communal utopia with Papa Smurf, the eldest, as their leader. The only threat they must face is the evil (human) wizard Gargamel, who is constantly trying to capture the Smurfs, believing he can turn them into Gold. I’d say they are targeting the 4-8 year-old demographic, and are successful at holding their attention with bright colors, and simple story lines.
The Smurf Village is setup somewhat like a family, with Papa Smurf appropriately placed at the patriarchal head. Whenever he is away, trouble ensues, implying that childre

Sigmund Freud defined secondary identification as “the endeavor to mold a person’s own ego after the fashion of one that has been taken as a model.” (Cole & Cole, 2001) Children who look to the female personality modeled for them by Smurfette will see only a very stereotypical and superficial model of a woman.

Throughout the series, Smurfette’s character epitomizes the stereotype of the traditional role of a woman. The story of Smurfette’s creation reinforces the idea that women are commodities—she is created, and changed, and made beautiful by the standards of men. Pollitt explains the effects of such images on children. “The message is clear. Boys are the norm, girls the variation; boys are central, girls peripheral; boys are individuals, girls are types. Boys define the group, its story and its code of values. Girls exist only in relation to boys.” (Pollitt, 1991)

Smurfette begins life as a little blue Frankenstein created by Gargamel to seduce and capture the Smurfs. She is welcomed with more than just friendship. Despite the fact that the male Smurfs have never seen a female of their species, they know "instinctively" that she is different, and must be treated so.

ildren are incapable of functioning without their parents. The show does not encourage individuality, but rather a collectivist ideal.

I found it interesting that "The Smurfs," while ironically trying to deny the presence of race with their blue skin, projects the image of a racially homogenous community that will not accept any differences. The strict homogeneity of their village is especially important in the particular episode I chose to study, titled “The Smurfette,” in which the first female Smurf is created.

Blossom (the leader), Buttercup (the toughest fighter), and Bubbles (the joy and the laughter) are not your average superheroes. Not o