Posted on March 8, 2023 by Rosario Arán
Over the past decade, Women’s Day has become more critical in the world’s agenda, and even though it used to be a day to congratulate women, the feminist movements around the world have made it clear that on this Day, it is vital to take the discussion further and bring to the table all the challenges, stereotypes, pressures, and inequalities that women still face.
However, celebrating women’s empowerment is part of the demonstration that women are capable of doing whatever they want and that the obstacles come from the traditions and outdated norms and policies that prevent women from reaching their goals and be more likely to suffer from inequality, violence, lack of opportunities, and so on.
Luckily, there has been a shift, and nowadays, it is easier to find female role models that inspire women and girls worldwide. Throughout history, women might have been in the shadow. Still, because of the need to highlight their role in the evolution of humanity, books and movies have been investing time and resources to bring those women back to the spotlight to discover the importance of their fight and how they have impacted us to this Day.
Kids’ TV shows are no exception to this trend, and we have seen strong female characters taking the lead and inspiring a new generation of kids. From The Powerpuff Girls fighting crime to the anime classic Sailor Moon, girls have been inspired to fight for themselves without needing a man all the time by their side. Now, we can discuss the level of violence in both cases and think about sweeter alternatives and show other aspects of female empowerment, such as Dora, the Explorer.
Can I mention The Magical School Bus and the queen Ms Frizzle again? She drives the bus, is bright, and is not afraid of anything, and the girls in her class are among the bravest and most curious children I’ve seen! I’ve recently watched Carmen San Diego, another excellent example of a strong woman.
The Importance of TV Shows with Strong Female Characters
Why is it important to have these strong female characters represented in cartoons? Because children feel either represented and inspired by these women and even aspire to grow and feel as strong as they are.
These cartoons act as a safe and comfort zone for them and can even teach them to stand up for themselves whenever they see something unfair.
However, not only girls will have someone to look up to during their entertainment hours. Boys must take the time to watch these shows and have these female characters as their heroes. It is part of changing the norms and teaching men to change their minds, and we can do this by showing positive examples around them. In the past, boys would see on TV female characters doing the chords and staying at home, powerless, while the men saved them (Yes, I’m talking to you, Superman and Batman), and it marked a generation of men for decades. Hopefully, as children see women taking other roles, they see that is not how the world should work.5 Kids shows featuring strong girls
Here are five shows available in Oznoz featuring strong girls characters for children:
Luna is a curious girl who is unafraid to ask questions and try new things to feed her curiosity. She proves that it is okay to be brave and dare to do something to understand the world around her.
Nancy Drew
For an older audience, Nancy Drew is a classic show featuring young detective Nancy because solving crimes is not only a man’s job!
Dot.
An eight-year-old girl who is a problem solver. Yes, she might have created the situation, but she is fearless and challenges herself to come up with solutions.
Kitty is not a cat
A dark mansion full of cats, very dark. Yet, Kitty is so courageous that instead of feeling scared, she has the time of her life and enjoys new adventures.
Mia and Me
This young lady grows more assertive in each episode while saving the fairy world she is thrown at through magic.
These stories focus on girls making their way and finding solutions to overcome obstacles. They prove that girls can be whoever they want to be, pursue their dreams and save the world too!
Women’s Day is a great moment to introduce your children to “girl power” and start changing future generations through stories that teach them about the endless possibilities and how we can begin tackling inequality and eliminating harmful norms, concepts, and policies.