Androcentric Bias: Anthropomorphic Characters Promoting Masculinity

Abstract

Cartoons on television are a platform for gender representation because of their varied content. It is observed evidence that cartoons hold a more dominant role over the centuries. The stereotyped gender representation in animated television programs affects viewers, particularly young children, in a variety of ways. The purpose of this study is to analyze how anthropomorphic characters promote masculinity in Indian television cartoons. The character comparison was conducted to determine whether cartoons in India promote masculinity or not. It was discovered that anthropomorphic male characters played the main characters and dominate one, while female anthropomorphic characters are underrepresented, indicating that gender is stereotypically portrayed. Through androcentrism, the article would examine how the gender stereotypes given to the nonhuman characters in these shows perpetuate gender unfairness. This study examines how gender stereotypes are promoted through the pretense of “children’s entertainment” in animations and how these problems might be addressed.