ETV: Cool Cats 23/12/2018


Date: December 23, 2018
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Name of monitor:  Mpho Pitsi

Name of Television station: E.Tv

Name of programme: Cool Cats

Date of broadcast: 23 December 2018

Time: 08h06 – 08h30

Genre: Mixed

Theme: Relationship between girls and boys

GBV focus explicit or implicit? Implicit

Gem Classification: Subtle stereotypes

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 Brief description of scene:
Catnap is being mocked by Wildcat and Kitty cat for not wanting to play outside. The scene involves Catnap, Wildcat, Kitty Cat and Smarty Cat.

Context

Kitty cat and Wild cat want to go play outside but Catnap does not want to. Wildcat teases him and calls him a chicken for not wanting to go play outside. It is a stand- alone incident.

Why it has been given this GEM classification:

I gave it this classification because it reinforces the stereotype that boys should be strong, embrace physical activity, and lead the charge when exploring and engaging in physical games and activities.

Title:

It’s introduced when Kitty cat suggest they go play dodge outside after losing at card games to Wild Cat. It conveys a stereotype and is relevant to the storyline.

 Focus:

GBV is not the focus in this scene.

People in the programming:

Both girls and boys do speak in the scene. There is a reasonable balance between the male and female characters. Catnap is portrayed as a coward for not wanting to go play outside. All characters are presented in a reliable way. Both male and female characters do not speak about GBV

Language:

There are no identifiable patterns in reporting GBV in this scene. No overtly sexist language is used. The adjectives used are relevant and objective. Wildcat, who said he is the best at almost everything, is calling Catnap a coward for not wanting to play dodgeball outside. This could show a subtle power relation between the two boy cats, but there is no language used to convey the power relations between the male and female characters in this scene.

Visuals:

The girls and boys in the scene are portrayed well. The images and video footage on television illustrate the contents of the storyline fairly and do convey a stereotype. Their appearance is not exaggerated and does not degrade the dignity of the boys and girls. The overall message of this scene is that calling someone a coward because they do not want to participate in an activity you want to engage in is not nice and children should have a choice about what kind of activities they choose to participate in. Boys should not be forced into engaging in physical activities if they don’t want to.

 Angles and perspective:

All four voices and viewpoints are present. Wildcats’ voice predominates. There is a reasonable balance of viewpoints heard in the scene. There are no missing voices in the scene. The scene takes a position that reinforces the stereotypes that boys/anyone is a coward for not wanting to do what others are doing.

 Intersectionality:

The pattern of oppression in this scene is when the coolest member of the groups makes fun of one of the other members because he does not want to do something that the coolest wants him to do. Kittycat also follows Wildcat’s lead and joins him in calling Catnap a chicken.

Conclusion:

Listening and respecting Catnap’s decision of not wanting to play outside, instead of calling him a chicken would have made this scene gender aware. The show should promote the idea that children should be able to engage in the activities that they want to engage in without criticism from members of their group.

 


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