What are we going to do with prejudice today, Ferb?

Students: Busto Riquelme, Daniela and Graziano, Eleonora

“I know what we’re going to do today, Ferb!” is the phrase that for sure, many people who have children around them have heard at least once. Phineas and Ferb, the cartoon created to win over young fans with the adventures of brainy Phineas and his mostly silent stepbrother, Ferb, lets children imagination run wild with the character’s desires to make their summer vacations as much exiting as they can. But considering the way that certain characters are depicted, not too much is said about the treatment of racial and gender roles in this cartoon meant for children. Phineas and Ferb is a TV show which portrays American heroes, villains with foreign and strange surnames, and stereotyped women who are concerned with superficial matters.

Phineas and Ferb makes clear differences showing disparity among the characters’ ethnicity. It’s no coincidence that Phineas is portrayed as a talkative and outgoing American boy who leads the group of friends while his British stepbrother Ferb is presented as a shy genius who hardly ever speaks and for that reason is committed to follow Phineas’ commands.

Though several different cultures are presented throughout the show, those who are not American are shown as inferior. Take for example Baljeet; he is an Indian boy who is always bullied by Buford, an American Caucasian boy. Also Stacy Hirano, the only major Asian character, always lets her Caucasian friend, Phineas and Ferb elder sister, Candance, make decisions. Although it’s clear that foreigners are inferior in a way they are useful to Ferb in his commitment: destroy the villain character in the show, whose surname is coincidentally from German origin, the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz

Phineas and Ferb has girls among its fans, however, it gives a picture of superficiality in female characters. “I’m Lindana, I wanna have fun”, the title of the greatest hit in the protagonists’ mother singer career is an example of what girls think is the way of spending life, just having fun doing superfluous things . In the other hand it is clearly shown that Phineas and Ferb’s idea of having fun is doing interesting things such as inventions which are used to help someone in need or to help themselves.

But having fun, going shopping in order to cheer their friends up when their crushes don’t pay attention to them, talking and giggling are not the only things girls are interested in. They also care about love and sensitivity matters. Candance regularly goes to humiliating lengths to impress Jeremy. And of course, her favourite play is called “Princess Sensitivity”. Isabella, another love-struck female, seems to be motivated by her attraction to Phineas rather than to the sense of adventure.  

This programme is meant to be seen by children between 6 and 10 years old, so anything that is shown in it is sent out to millions of kids. For that reason, it’s important to be careful with which messages children are going to get. Do we want them to learn that Caucasians are superior to other cultures or that women cannot take the lead and are committed to follow men desires? Clearly, this show typifies its characters by ethnic groups and gender. So, do you know what TV show to watch today?