Perhaps in response to our Quote of the Day from Geena Davis, founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, a reader asks:
As the father of a nearly year-old daughter, I’d be interested in getting some informed takes on children’s movies. We’ll undoubtedly be watching many in the next few years. Can we apply this Bechdel test to some of the classics of the genre or are there more complex forces at …work? If there are other considerations, what would they be?
While the Bechdel test is certainly a great place to start–seeing whether girls talk to each other about something other than boys–it’s not the end-all of determining feminist media. Female characters with true agency represent real role models for girls. So…avoid Disney? Certainly someone can offer better advice.
Help us out: What specific movies/television programs would you recommend for young girls?
I’d buy all the seasons of Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars immediately. While neither show is “perfect” (ha ha), both have complex and intelligent female characters and they’d give parents and young women (and little girls, too, I’d argue) much to talk about. I would also argue that the father character in VM is the best tv dad of the last ten years…perhaps ever! Yes, I declare it.
Also, the documentary “Seneca Falls” (which has aired on PBS recently) is also one I highly recommend.
http://www.senecafallsfilm.org/
It takes girls as its focus. I’m sure I’ll think of more as the days go by. A good number of colleges and universities offer courses in “girl culture” or special topics in American history or English that focus on girls (in literature, their literacy practices, etc.).
Also, New Moon magazine may have movie recommendations. It’s a girl-authored publication. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Moon_%28magazine%29
I realize none of these suggestions are for really young girls…sorry about that.
Angelina Ballerina – despite the stereotype of girls and ballet, has many female characters and not everything is about ballet, not even most of it.
Avatar the Last Air Bender – Nickelodeon, not live action – has strong female characters.
Little Bear – while the main character is male his best friend is female and there are other girls in the stories.
Backyardigans – two very strong girls always share in all adventures near as I can tell.
Here are some responses we’ve received on our Facebook page:
Monsters vs. Aliens
Princess Mononoke
Castle in the Sky
Howl’s Moving Castle
Naussica
Kiki
The Cat Returns
Totoro
Coraline
The Last Unicorn
The Phantom Tollbooth
Sound of Music
Whale Rider
National Velvet
Keep them coming!
My daughter is two and a half, and she absolutely adores Dora the Explorer, and I do too. It’s technically a Bechdel fail in most episodes, but that’s largely due to the simplicity and format of the show, which involves the characters talking to the audience (breaking the 4th wall) more than they talk to each other. I love that the show doesn’t follow common assumptions in TV about being a “girls’ show” or “boys’ show”. It is a show suitable for all children that does not push gender stereotypes (no pink sparkle explosion). Dora is strong and adventurous and also cares about helping others. Plus, there’s educational content including teaching some Spanish words.
How about..
Madeline,
A little Princess,
Anastasia,
Mulan,
how about some Sailor Moon?
Daria,
Pippy long stocking,
Anne of Green Gables
Azumanga Daioh (anime)
Degrassi: the next gen
The powerpuff girls!
Scooby doo (i used to LOVE Velma)
..Joan of Arcadia maybe?
As the father in question, I want to thank BF and its readers for their thoughtful and copious suggestions. My daughter’s almost a year old so she’s still a bit young for the cinema, but I’ll certainly be adding a few of these titles to our library.
Thanks!