The Smurfette Principle

From: Kat

The Smurfette principle is a practice in media in which typically features an all-male cast with generally only one main female. Not a lot of people when I was trying to decide on what photo I was going to make I didn’t see anyone really doing the Smurfette principle, which was a shame since I thought the concept was interesting, so I did it myself. In my photo I decided on having a “child” watching tv while the tv is filled with examples of the Smurfette principle. I wanted the photo to be angled in the way that would make it seem like the child is enraptured with the shows, absorbing everything they see. The images I chose showcased perfect examples of the principle, for example in the original trilogy for “Star Wars” Princess Leia was the only main female character in the galaxy for 16 years and even in the prequals she was replaced by Padme. One example is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in which even though it’s been rebooted many times over many generations it still showcases the Smurfette principle every time. The key points of the Smurfette principle are that the show is a make dominated cast and plot with only one main key female character, one who’s usually stereotyped. Another is that the message that was either intentionally or unintentionally that is being told is clear, “Boys are the norm, girls the variation; boys are central, girls peripheral; boys are individuals, girl’s types. Boys define the group, its story and its code of values. Girls exist only in relation to boys.” (1). The third being that children can pick up on the sexism, boys and girls, because children believe what they see in media as what the truth is rather than believe what they see with their own eyes. And finally tying back into the last point is that parents don’t truly pay attention to what their kids are watching as long as they keep quiet.  Even though the Smurfette principle is not as present in newer media it still shows up every now and again, and still has massive effects on children and future generations.
 
Works Cited
Gould, Lois. “X: A Fabulous Child's Story.” Ms., July 1972. Pollitt, Katha. “Hers; The Smurfette Principle.” The New York Times, 7 Apr. 1991.