POST 4 (EXAMPLE): GENDER VIOLENCE IN A FICTION CHARACTER THAT I LOVE.

POST 4 EXAMPLE (due to Monday 09-07):

The Simpsons is Sexist!

This topic has been one of the topics I’ve needed to think over for longer because it is undeniable that to be critical with one’s likes and preferences might be a bit hard due to the small amount of reflection we are required to do upon our own preferences, but finally, after all the many thoughts involved I got to the conclusion that a good example of a sexist fictional character I love would be the famous yellow American family I got to know back in the late nineties when cable TV was just arriving to the 8^th region and that I believe it is sexist because it attempts to systematically reassure the classical patriarchal family stereotype and by claiming an alleged feminism, it places the concept of masculinity and manhood to a level synonym of stupidity and insensible irresponsibility .

Back in the 90’s, the TV channels and programmes on offer in the country was limited but at some point the cable TV industry began operations and I could be witness of a new type of cartoons who did not portray the classic childish stories and characters , we he children could watch now a satirical and ironical representation of a typical “ideal-american-dream” family and its decadence.

In the series I believe we find sexism because the characters have followed throughout all the seasons, the classical family organization in which the male is the one who works and provides for the family while the wife, Marge, is entirely devoted to the children. Furthermore, this stand has only been contested eventually when Marge suffers from a breakdown or problem and even in these situations the series has shown us how it is a lot better that women take care of the children. In other words, Marge has placed all her ambitions in a second place in order to raise the beloved children she had with Homer, and otherwise, the family would collapse completely.

All the former leads me to another fact that leads me to think that sexism is widely present in The Simpsons and as mentioned, the differences between the female and male roles in the series are depicted in the construction of the different characters and while women in general present a higher degree of responsibility, civility and morality, men are depicted as unintelligent, non-rational and immature; an example of it are the consequences the family suffers from in every episode in which Marge is away and the children under Homer’s care.

Illustrations of the instances argued in this blog are abundant all along the many seasons the series has broadcast so far and thus quite difficult to summarize in these short lines. However, by having a female character who has abandoned her dreams in order to pursue the American ideal of a family and furthermore, by having a undermining treatment of the masculine roles and their skills is that, despite being one of my very favourite cartoon series of all times, The Simpsons is not quite far from being a sexist TV series.