New childrens' show features "gender-bending" action hero

alexri · 05-28-2013, 06:30 PM

I've pulled the below info from a couple of sources.

The children’s cable network "The Hub" is launching its latest superhero cartoon, which features a gender-bending crime fighter named “SheZow.” The show has previously aired in Australia and will be debuting in the United States in June.

The show’s main character is a 12-year-old boy named Guy who uses a magic ring to transform himself into a crime-fighting girl.

Guy finds and puts on his deceased Aunt Agne's super powered ring, inheriting her Super Hero alter ego, SheZow. Guy takes on the appearance of a female super hero and with the help of his sister, Kelly, and best friend, Maz, he protects the city of Megadale from supervillains and criminals.

Controversy is already stirring online on social media and on news sources. One Million Moms is protesting. The network has already gotten some hate mail.

I'm wondering what you think about this cartoon. I've attached the preview. I know it's not the first show/cartoon to deal with gender switching or issues but it's getting a lot of heat/discussion/interest as it's launching on a US children's network.

DapperButch · 05-28-2013, 06:39 PM

I don't know. He is not too thrilled about being a girl.... that makes me a bit uncomfortable. If he was ok with the change to being a girl, that would be different. His discomfort gives me pause. I am wondering what message that sends.

Yes, it is only the preview, and perhaps this is only how he feels "at first", but I would be much more comfortable with a character who from moment one was nonplussed about the gender change, if not pleased.

spritzerJ · 05-28-2013, 08:50 PM

Hmm... I love the idea. I hope the character does evolve and grow into a level of comfort with being a girl.

The General feels pretty darn certain that being a girl kicks tushie and doesn't want to be anything else right now. But she has experienced a few gender presentations. Some of her friends haven't experienced that. She has friends who like to switch between girl and boy identities. And that is just their normal play. Part of their process in middle childhood.

So I can see SheZow as having an audience with the 6-10 crowd.

dykeumentary · 05-28-2013, 09:22 PM

I'm curious about this!
Gender happens in the context of race and class and culture, so I suppose we will see what "being a girl" will actually mean in this story.
It might be fun!

DapperButch · 05-29-2013, 04:38 PM

<Bump>

Surely more people have thoughts! This is a good topic!

Corkey · 05-29-2013, 05:38 PM

I need more than a trailer to make an informed comment....there's a first for everything.

The_Lady_Snow · 05-29-2013, 06:00 PM

I find this to be no different than *Chowder* or *The Normal Show*.. Both of these shows had some form of gender bending qualities to them. We can even look far as back as Bugs Bunny (how quickly we forget):

Gender bending has existed in childrens programming for as long as I can remember. I am going to assume that this Guy kid found a ring with super powers and like any other kid he is going to do what kids do. He is gonna keep it, don't matter if he is a girl or has to turn into one with the support and friendships of a bestie and a sister most kids will do just about ANYTHING.

I wonder (because I just can't remember) if people did this with Bugs, Tom..

The annoying TeleTubbies (one carried a purse) brought this form of reaction too, anyone remember Jerry Falwell assuming and imposing Tinky Winky as a "gay icon" because of the upside down triangle and purse?!?

My folks (who are fucking ridiculously Catholic and conservative) never had an issue with the cartoon, they do have issues with sexually over toned cartoons and will not let the kids watch them in the living room area if they go to Abuelita's house..

The ridiculous reactions of people like One Million Moms is no surprise, the hate agenda is strong and loud when it comes to spreading the hate and claiming the *gays* are trying to convert their children...

Binary thinking will always fear what is nor deemed *normal* they aren't going to allow their children to watch Cartoon Network, PBS, Disney anything that does not keep gender presentation to just F and M is going to scare them and because "merica feeds on fear, they are going to be chaotic and fearful.

DapperButch · 06-07-2013, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DapperButch

I don't know. He is not too thrilled about being a girl.... that makes me a bit uncomfortable. If he was ok with the change to being a girl, that would be different. His discomfort gives me pause. I am wondering what message that sends.

Yes, it is only the preview, and perhaps this is only how he feels "at first", but I would be much more comfortable with a character who from moment one was nonplussed about the gender change, if not pleased.

I watched the first episode. I am glad that it was presented the way I had hoped (he is uncomfortable at first, but isn't disgusted by it...he even has some moments of fun with it). It doesn't appear transphobic to me, which I am happy about.

05-28-2013, 06:30 PM	#1
alexri Member How Do You Identify?: - Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: - Posts: 549 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,209 Thanked 2,799 Times in 468 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	New childrens' show features "gender-bending" action hero I've pulled the below info from a couple of sources. The children’s cable network "The Hub" is launching its latest superhero cartoon, which features a gender-bending crime fighter named “SheZow.” The show has previously aired in Australia and will be debuting in the United States in June. The show’s main character is a 12-year-old boy named Guy who uses a magic ring to transform himself into a crime-fighting girl. Guy finds and puts on his deceased Aunt Agne's super powered ring, inheriting her Super Hero alter ego, SheZow. Guy takes on the appearance of a female super hero and with the help of his sister, Kelly, and best friend, Maz, he protects the city of Megadale from supervillains and criminals. Controversy is already stirring online on social media and on news sources. One Million Moms is protesting. The network has already gotten some hate mail. I'm wondering what you think about this cartoon. I've attached the preview. I know it's not the first show/cartoon to deal with gender switching or issues but it's getting a lot of heat/discussion/interest as it's launching on a US children's network.

05-28-2013, 06:39 PM	#2
DapperButch Roadster Guy How Do You Identify?: FTM, Stone Butch Preferred Pronoun?: He Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,745 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 26,545 Thanked 26,814 Times in 5,772 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	I don't know. He is not too thrilled about being a girl.... that makes me a bit uncomfortable. If he was ok with the change to being a girl, that would be different. His discomfort gives me pause. I am wondering what message that sends. Yes, it is only the preview, and perhaps this is only how he feels "at first", but I would be much more comfortable with a character who from moment one was nonplussed about the gender change, if not pleased. __________________ -Dapper Are you educated or indoctrinated?

05-29-2013, 04:38 PM	#5
DapperButch Roadster Guy How Do You Identify?: FTM, Stone Butch Preferred Pronoun?: He Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,745 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 26,545 Thanked 26,814 Times in 5,772 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	<Bump> Surely more people have thoughts! This is a good topic! __________________ -Dapper Are you educated or indoctrinated?

05-29-2013, 05:38 PM	#6
Corkey Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Human Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Very Married Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Where I want to be Posts: 8,155 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 47,491 Thanked 29,270 Times in 6,637 Posts Rep Power: 21474859	I need more than a trailer to make an informed comment....there's a first for everything. __________________ "Many proposals have been made to us to adopt your laws, your religion, your manners and your customs. We would be better pleased with beholding the good effects of these doctrines in your own practices, than with hearing you talk about them". ~Old Tassel, Chief of the Tsalagi (Cherokee)

05-29-2013, 06:00 PM	#7
The_Lady_Snow MILLION $$$ PUSSY How Do You Identify?: Kinky, Raw, Perverted, Uber Queer Alpha Femme Preferred Pronoun?: Iconic Ms. Relationship Status: Keeper of 3, only one has the map to my freckles Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: La Reina del Sur Posts: 22,488 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 32,231 Thanked 80,079 Times in 15,669 Posts Rep Power: 21474874	Thoughts I find this to be no different than Chowder or The Normal Show.. Both of these shows had some form of gender bending qualities to them. We can even look far as back as Bugs Bunny (how quickly we forget): Gender bending has existed in childrens programming for as long as I can remember. I am going to assume that this Guy kid found a ring with super powers and like any other kid he is going to do what kids do. He is gonna keep it, don't matter if he is a girl or has to turn into one with the support and friendships of a bestie and a sister most kids will do just about ANYTHING. I wonder (because I just can't remember) if people did this with Bugs, Tom.. The annoying TeleTubbies (one carried a purse) brought this form of reaction too, anyone remember Jerry Falwell assuming and imposing Tinky Winky as a "gay icon" because of the upside down triangle and purse?!? My folks (who are fucking ridiculously Catholic and conservative) never had an issue with the cartoon, they do have issues with sexually over toned cartoons and will not let the kids watch them in the living room area if they go to Abuelita's house.. The ridiculous reactions of people like One Million Moms is no surprise, the hate agenda is strong and loud when it comes to spreading the hate and claiming the gays are trying to convert their children... Binary thinking will always fear what is nor deemed normal they aren't going to allow their children to watch Cartoon Network, PBS, Disney anything that does not keep gender presentation to just F and M is going to scare them and because "merica feeds on fear, they are going to be chaotic and fearful. __________________ "If you’re going to play these dirty games of ours, then you might as well indulge completely. It’s all about turning back into an animal and that’s the beauty of it. Place your guilt on the sidewalk and take a blow torch to it (guilt is usually worthless anyway). Be perverted, be filthy, do things that mannered people shouldn’t do. If you’re going to be gross then go for it and don’t wimp out."---Master Aiden

05-28-2013, 08:50 PM	#3
spritzerJ Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: Queer (gender), female (biological marker) Preferred Pronoun?: she will work as a default. Relationship Status: engaged to jac until 8/10/14 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 3,154 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,307 Thanked 15,802 Times in 2,905 Posts Rep Power: 0	Hmm... I love the idea. I hope the character does evolve and grow into a level of comfort with being a girl. The General feels pretty darn certain that being a girl kicks tushie and doesn't want to be anything else right now. But she has experienced a few gender presentations. Some of her friends haven't experienced that. She has friends who like to switch between girl and boy identities. And that is just their normal play. Part of their process in middle childhood. So I can see SheZow as having an audience with the 6-10 crowd.

05-28-2013, 09:22 PM	#4
dykeumentary Member How Do You Identify?: butch dyke Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 449 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 341 Thanked 1,548 Times in 359 Posts Rep Power: 19160663	I'm curious about this! Gender happens in the context of race and class and culture, so I suppose we will see what "being a girl" will actually mean in this story. It might be fun!