CBeebies at 10: Where are the lead female characters?
CBeebies has won a host of awards since it was launched ten years ago – most recently for the crime-fighting reggae-loving ‘Rastamouse’, and for the singing vegetables that star in ‘Mr Bloom’s Nursery’. Alongside established favourites like Postman Pat and Bob the Builder, shows like these have made it the most watched channel in the UK for the under sixes – and while parents generally regard it as a delightful and safe place to park a pre-schooler, one grumble continues to pervade message boards and blogs – where are all the lead female characters? This is a question that interests Dr Helen Mott from the Bristol Fawcett Society and she joins Jenni to discuss the issue with the Controller of CBeebies – Kay Benbow.
Watch one of the Childrens TV show here and analyse the characters gender roles and who the active participants in the narrative are?
What is Dr Helen Motts argument about gender and representation in BBC Children’s programmes?
What is Dr Helen Mott arguing about Characters and Narrative in relation to gender?
How has Kay Benbow (Cbeebies new controller) responded to Helen Mott’s criticism?
What debate does the discussion open up about audiences?
Analysing Your Work:
In What way does your film represent gender through the characters?
In what way does your film opening represent gender through Narratives?
On reflection how do you feel your film opening relates to the audience?
Do you feel the representations you created were intentional?
How do you feel you have represented gender in products you have made since you Children’s opening?
