Feb 14 2023
Lucy Rivers Discuss Children's Television
In this thought-provoking episode, Jackie and Lucy Rivers delve into the crucial topic of TV's influence on children and its cultural impact. With Lucy's in-depth research, we uncover some concerning findings about the representation of gender in children's television. Did you know that female lead characters have decreased from 52% in 2018 to 45% in 2020? Or that female characters are three times more likely to be shown in revealing clothing or partially nude? Moreover, male characters are often portrayed as violent or criminals, while female characters are confined to service positions. We also explore the sexualization of female characters and the detrimental effects of such portrayals on young minds.
Lucy, a renowned expert in the field, shares her insights backed by research, including studies from the Geena Davis Institute and other reputable sources. We also discuss how these representations in TV shows can contribute to unconscious biases in children and perpetuate harmful tropes and expectations for girls and women. From gender biases in career ambitions to limiting portrayals of male attributes, the impact is far-reaching and concerning.
Don't miss this eye-opening conversation with Lucy Rivers, an expert in the field of media representation. You can find Lucy on Instagram @lucy_rivers_pgr, LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/lucyrivers, and Twitter @Lucyriphd. Be sure to support us on Patreon at patreon.com/thesexypolitico if you can. Subscribe to our podcast and check out our website and social media platforms, including Twitter @thesexypolitico, Instagram @_thesexypolitico, Facebook at The Sexy Politico, Pinterest at The Sexy Politico, and Tumblr at thesexypolitico.tumblr.com.
References:
Research in 2020 by the Geena Davis Institute on gender in media: 45% of children's TV episodes have a female lead, down from 52% in 2018.
Female characters are three times more likely to be shown in revealing clothing or partially nude.
Male characters are more likely to be shown as violent and twice as likely to be depicted as criminals compared to female characters.
Male characters are more likely to be shown in professional positions, while female characters are more likely to be shown in service positions. Male characters outnumber female characters two-to-one in STEM professions (70.2% / 29.8%).
In live action, female characters account for most of the screen time (58.7%) and speaking time (58.8%), higher than any previous year. Two-thirds (62.6%) of children's TV episodes pass the Bechdel-Wallace Test.
Children consume up to 6 hours of media a day (tweens) and up to 9 hours a day (teens), potentially influencing unconscious biases from a young age (Common Sense Media).
The Geena Davis Institute found an alarming degree of sexualization in kids' TV, including emphasis on physical appearance for female characters, revealing clothing, and partial nudity.
Another study found that female characters in kids' TV were more likely to use magic to solve problems, while male characters were more likely to use STEM skills or physical strength, reinforcing limiting gender roles (CBC News).
These harmful tropes and expectations of gender roles in TV can impact real girls and women.
Research shows that gender biases are present in young kids, with boys displaying higher levels of ambition when imagining themselves as adults compared to girls of the same age, contributing to unconscious biases from a young age.
