In Christensen's article "Unlearning the Myths That Blind Us", she argues that children's cartoons and shows and media are "secret education" that teaches kids what society thinks as acceptable and unacceptable. They teach kids stereotypes about different genders, race, and class that are not true. In this article Christensen explains what she does with her class to help here students to critique what they see and help them to act on what they see in cartoons to make change.
1."depicts all Arabs with the same face, same turban, same body and they are all thieves swinging enormous swords." This is from a Popeye cartoon and this is pointing out how this cartoon stereotypes Arabs.
2."Both of the Cinderellas compete for their men against their sisters and the rest of the single women in their cities. They "win" because of their beauty and their fashionable attire." This quote is talking about the story of Cinderella and teaches little girls that watch or hear this story that if they want to win they need to be beautiful and compete and fight against all other women, including their sisters, to get a guy.
3."Many who watched cartoons before we start our study say they can no longer enjoy them. Now instead of seeing a bunch of ducks in clothes, they see the racism, sexism, and violence that swim under the surface of the stories." This is what a lot of Christensen's students are saying after taking her class. It is hard for them to realize that cartoons is a "secret education" before taking the class, but after they can know critique and take action to start changing this "secret education."
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