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• The Problem with The Smurfs

  So, I hadn’t really thought much about The Smurf Movie. I did briefly think about how unfortunate it was that the Smurfs are mostly male. There’s just Smurfette. But like a lot of people, I’m sure, I remember watching the Smurfs when I was younger, and liking it.

  But after looking at the Smurf toys that come in McDonald’s happy meals, I realized there is really a problem. The Smurf’s are all doing things that relate to their names. For example, painter Smurf is painting.

  

  But Smurfette? Well she’s doing the girl Smurf thing. Wearing high heels and looking dainty.

  This message is not new, and its not rare. Boys are often motivated to “do” and girls to just be “girly”. But what if we started rethinking it? What if when making the movie, they had added female Smurfs? Or gender neutral smurfs? Or what if Mcdonalds had an line of Smurfette doing awesome things - like scuba diving or performing open heart surgery?

  What do you think?

  permalink 7 notes Feminism Smurfs McDonalds Gender Toys