I agree with you that cartoons stereotype. But the reason was, that this was the 1930’s. People accepted the common beliefs of blacks and Mexicans back then because they were true. Examples were that the blacks were not given education so they were slow in some areas. Also during that time Mexicans were indeed trying to cross the boarder and trying to take what they needed to survive. Hollywood just used it as a form of entertainment.

Men are heroes because, let’s just face it ladies, they are physically stronger than women. I am a woman myself, but I admit that men are naturally stronger than women. Men know when to set priorities and are the natural protectors of the family, check out Animal Planet sometime. They are better stress managers. Men do not back down. Face it women, they are stronger and are able to handle the responsibly better than we are.

And you are taking the whole Man saving the world thing out of proportion. Remember that Superman was created in the 1940’s for entertainment. And in the 1940’s, women were housewives. Spiderman was created in 1962 for entertainment, still in the time where women were housewives. Popeye was created in 1929, way back before Superman and Spiderman where women were still housewives. And Popeye was created for encouraging children to eat their spinach in a fun, entertaining way.

Yes, I hate the fact that we women have to be saved sometimes, but your examples are off. First of all, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella were fairy tales. Fairy tales back before Medieval times that were used to scare children into listening to their parents, although the versions you know are grossly “fluffed up”. Mary Jane is from the 1960’s. Women from that time period have a different thinking pattern and were still weak as most women are today.

I know what you are thinking. Yes, I do agree there are many stereotypes that go around today. But these cartoons were not made to be stereotypical. They were made BASED on the REAL WORLD of that TIME PERIOD. Women are significantly weaker than men and still are. It’s not our faults we are built this way. Men were naturally made to protect us for this reason! Yes, the stereotypes of blacks and Mexicans still roam around, but just because a cartoon from a different time period with different thinking and different reasons for making it that way seems to portray that, doesn’t mean you should blame it as the prime factor.

Yes we hate these stereotypes, but next time research some more on your points.

Now I do agree that cartoons use stereotypes, but your article just isn't very convincing. Firstly, you only use a few sources, and some of your statements are incorrect.

Firstly, you mention the producers could've made Spider-man and Superman since they're guys in the comics...? This has nothing to do with stereotypes in cartoons; he's a comic character. And if you're discussing comic characters, where on Earth did you get the idea that men are always heroes? What about WonderWoman? Jean Grey? Valkyrie? Black Canary? Storm? Starfire? Emma Frost? Bat-girl? Elektra? Women are heroes, too! And what about Supergirl? There are plenty of female heroes. I also am not really sure about your Mary Jane example, as she varies from movie to movie, comic to comic, and show to show.

As for all the damsels in distress, well, that's not really the cartoons fault. Fairy tales were around when women weren't treated as well as they are now, and not all shows are about such. Most Nicklodeon shows portray women as being very smart and rarely in need of rescue (Sandy from Spongebob, Maddie from Danny Phantom, and Wanda from The Fairly Oddparents). And before you knock Disney, I'd like to point out the movies The Frog Princess and Enchanted.

So while you may be right about stereotypes, you don't even acknowledge the full picture, AND the examples you use come from periods in history where women really were treated and thought of as inferior. Because of that, your article falls flat, and while there may be truth in what you say, you're just not saying it.