COMM 380:  Media Criticism

She-Ra is no longer just a hero from the 80’s. Picked up by Netflix in 2018, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power officially joined the group of rebooted animated classics. Much like the original cartoon, the show follows Adora who must face her magical destiny of becoming She-Ra the all-powerful princess savior of the world. What makes the show revolutionary is not its nostalgic roots, but rather its ability to stray from its origin. Portrayal of women and gender in general is revolutionized in the new She-Ra. Creator Noelle Stevenson and the primarily female cast and crew are to thank for this change in representation. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is an important step towards proper gender representation and sets a new standard for women both in general and specifically children’s television.

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Background

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            The series begins with Adora living within enemy territory. The hero of the story was raised and trained by the bad guys. Upon realizing her destiny as a savior rather than a soldier, Adora switches sides and leaves her life behind to be with the other princesses and joins the rebellion. This decision creates a divide between her and Catra, a member of her former team who chose to stay with the enemy. The series follows Adora and her struggles with adjusting to her new world, relationships, and power. Soon, Catra, Adora’s rival, rises in rank behind enemy lines and the two are forced to battle frequently. Along the way audiences are introduced to a plethora of characters of all genders and looks. Unafraid of change, Stevenson showcases diversity and welcomes a new era of representation within the show.

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Representation of Gender in Media

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            Television makes a larger impact on societal expectations than one may think. In fact, often “television is credited with being the great socializer in American society,” regarding how people believe they should act and participate (Davis, 1990, p. 325). Due to this, representations of gender and gender roles are incredibly influential, and potentially detrimental. Over the years, representation of gender within popular television media has been problematic. As the article Pretty as a Princess: Longitudinal Effects of Engagement with Disney Princesses on Gender Stereotypes, Body Esteem, and Prosocial Behavior in Children points out, female characters are “often stereotyped and sexualized in mass media,” especially within children’s media (Coyne et al., 2016, p. 1). Regarding children’s media, these negative stereotypes and unrealistic expectations portrayed often “lay down a foundation for gender role development over time” in the children who view it (Coyne et al., 2016, p.1). Overall, the concept of reinforced gender roles in society through media relates back to cultivation theory. According to cultivation theory, one’s perspective of and interaction within society can be heavily influenced through media. Studies have found this to be significantly true in children regarding their behaviors and inherent biases (Witt, 2000, p. 322). While this applies to all children, researchers have found that “notably, [the effects of] female stereotypes in media… are much stronger for girls than boys” (Coyne et al., 2016, p.1). Realistic and positive female representation is paramount for all audiences.

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Representation of Gender in She-Ra

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            She-Ra (2018) marks a change in the pattern of destructive gender representation. Previous She-Ra stuck to a hypersexualized animation style and had every female character fitting within this standard. Creator of She-Ra (2018), Noelle Stevenson, changes this and introduces a plethora of characters possessing diverse body types. While seemingly simple, this is incredibly important for children’s media due to “media images… forming an unrealistically thin ideal, as well as a potentially direct impact on body image disturbance” within young girls (Botta, 1999, p. 23). By showcasing the acceptance of several body types, especially when having them represented through important characters, She-Ra (2018) is making an impact on future generations. Tall, short, thin, muscular, fat, and everything in between are represented through just the princesses within the show. Through the use of cultivation theory, this new approach should lead to positive change regarding childhood psychology and the approach towards body image within girls.

            However, positive gendered representation does not stop at physical appearance. She-Ra (2018) rethinks how women can exist within their roles in society. According to Susan D. Witt, “female children are less likely to develop autonomy, initiative, and industriousness if they rarely see those traits modeled” within female characters (2000, p. 323). She-Ra presents all the power to the female characters (2018). The hero, the antagonist, the princesses with elemental powers, the rebellion; at any given moment within the show the number of female characters in power greatly outnumbers the male characters in power. However, this imbalance is not a negative attribute. With so many programs solely depicting female characters as sidekicks, love interests, mother figures, or irrelevant background characters, this type of representation has the potential to be life changing. Even established adult women working within the entertainment industry have voiced that the largest change they wish to witness within entertainment is for “their experiences [and] identity as women to be expressed on screen” through more diverse female roles (Serger, 2003, p. 112). Showing women in power and in charge can encourage young girls to pursue this within their own lives. Media makes an incredible impact on how children view both the world and themselves within in. She-Ra (2018) allows girls to see women, just like them, in these roles that are so often written for men.

            It is important to note the origins of She-Ra as a character. Originally, the story surrounded He-Man, it was not until 1985 that He-Man and the Masters of the Universe got a spin-off surrounding his female counterpart named She-Ra (Puschmann). Receiving a female centered action cartoon was a huge step, but as Karl Puschmann stated in his article about the series, she only “ever existed to shift product” and sell toys, she was not exactly empowering. The characters within the new 2018 She-Ra television series are designed for more than that. Just existing as a female within media is not enough, cultivation theory needs positive representation to make a difference. Puschmann goes on to state that he is “pleased the reboot is embracing diversity” due to his understanding of the impact media has on childhood psychology.

 

Conclusion

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            She-Ra is more than just a reboot (2018). The Netflix series redefines how women are viewed in media. Being a show that is primarily targeted towards children, it is paramount that the show’s creator considers its real world impact through a lens of cultivation theory. People learn through media, and She-Ra (2018) knows this. The show redefines beauty standards and shows women in empowering and important roles. Through this writing and design, the show is able to sway its audience towards a healthier and more realistic view towards gender stereotypes within society. Representation is incredibly important and media portrayals impact real world psychology and biases. All in all, She-Ra (2018) embraces diversity and breaks down negative gender stereotypes and is creating a more productive children’s television media narrative that will have a positive impact on younger generations and their thoughts towards gender equality.

 

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Bibliography

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Botta, R. A. (1999). Television Images and Adolescent Girls’ Body Image Disturbance. Journal of Communication, 49(2), 22–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1999.tb02791.x

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Coyne, S. M., Linder, J. R., Rasmussen, E. E., Nelson, D. A., & Birkbeck, V. (2016). Pretty as a Princess: Longitudinal Effects of Engagement With Disney Princesses on Gender Stereotypes, Body Esteem, and Prosocial Behavior in Children. Child Development, 87(6), 1909–1925. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12569

 

Davis, D. M. (1990). Portrayals of women in prime-time network television: Some demographic characteristics. Sex Roles, 23(5–6), 325–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290052

 

Puschmann, K. (2018, November 23). The rebooted She-Ra empowers everyone—Except the haters. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12163726

 

Seger, L. S. (Ed.). (2003). When women call the shots: The developing power and influence of women in television and film. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.

 

Witt, S. D. (2000). The Influence of Television on Children’s Gender Role Socialization. Childhood Education, 76(5), 322–324.