Who Ya Laughing At?: Minoritized Women in Cartoons

Cartoons and animations can be highly creative and entertaining art forms. They contain both obvious and subtle messages.  Often cartoons are humorous.  That's why the cartoon section of the newspaper is called the "Funny Pages."  But who are we laughing with, what are we laughing at and at the same time why are we laughing?

Historical analysis reveals women have been socially minoritized, culturally objectified and economically minimized worldwide. Since the invention of the graphic tools of cartooning, animating and illustrating, the presentation of women in cartoons has cultivated, promoted, and sustained on chauvinistic representations. 

 In addition, the representation of women combating racist stereotypes, ethnic bias and/or culture bigotry are also smacked with the a multiple of combined ”-isims.”  Asian, African American/Black, Latinx, Indigenous Native American and Arabian Middle Eastern women have frequently been presented with a lack of character complexity and in crude and hurtful fashion over the decades.

 Structured around sociological study as well as a dash of humor, this session will explore the intersectional connections of the presentations of gender, race, ethnicity, and culture in cartoons and animations.

TAKE A WAYS:

• Discover little known artists who presented women of color in cartoons that played against stereotype.
• Practice a couple of useful cartooning techniques
• Learn to watch the cartoon representations of people in a new light.

Funded by the Cedar Falls Community Foundation: Robert and Shirley Berg Fund for use by the Library.