Nothing funny about these toons

Sexism and racism in cartoons is as common as in movies. Inappropriate content is inculcated in children from a very young age. How much does it affect their upbringing?

For instance, Shin Chan (from the Japanese cartoon show of the same name) is a five-year-old, flirting, talking about sex and constantly disobeying his parents and teachers. SpongeBob SquarePants has indirect and very inappropriate jokes about porn, condoms, sex and women. Also, in the Indian show Chhota Bheem, Bheem is a fair and smart kid and his adversary is a fat boy, who is foolish and dark, and is named Kalia!

Children’s author Nandini Nayar, known for her book Where Shall We Go, What Will I be, and Where Is Amma, says, “Stereotyping of any kind is always dangerous since it limits the way anyone looks at the world. In the case of children it is doubly so since they are taught, at a young age, to perceive the world as absolutes, with no scope for variety. This prevents them from seeing the individuality and uniqueness of people and encourages them to lump all kinds of people under one easy heading.”

Psychologist Radhika Acharya adds, “There are many gender-biased cartoons in which girls are shown to be sensitive and weak, and it sows wrong personality seeds in children. Kids are very exploratory and when stereotypes are inculcated in them, it has a long-lasting effect. Also, when certain characters are shown in a bad light, children apply it personally.” Dark skinned children are often taunted by their peers; stereotypical cartoons only make matters worse, she adds.

However, we cannot stop children from watching cartoons; hence parents have a key role to play. Ananya Simlai, a mother of two and a corporate bank head says that she makes sure that her kids, Agniv and Aahir, are able to confide and talk to her about everything.

She says, “There is stereotypical content everywhere and not just in cartoons; how much can you protect your child? We can’t stop them from watching cartoons, so we should play an important role on how they receive it. As parents, we should prepare our children to face the world.”

Project manager at Green Gold Animations Hyderabad — the creators of Chhota Bheem — Anju Rani Chilakalapudi, says that the character Kalia was not meant to be discriminated against. “Chhota Bheem educates children about team building, problem-solving and many other things; it was created only to bring good in children. Kalia is shown in a negative shade, but there could be a child like that everywhere. Moreover, Kalia too has good qualities; he is only jealous of Bheem and wants to be like him,” says Anju.