Feminism Within The Simpsons: Feminism Within The Simpsons

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Recommended: Marriage in American culture

Michelle Boone & Kevin Gaspar
Dawn Kelsey
COMM 200: Gateway to Communication Studies
1 May 2014
Review of Literature: Feminism Within The Simpsons
Seeking to institute equal opportunities for women, Lisa Simpson, a self-proclaimed feminist from the animated television series The Simpsons, persistently promotes the rights and equality of women. The mother figure, Marge Simpson, is Lisa’s opposing female role when it comes to advocating feminism. In this show, both characters provide insight into the stereotypes of suffrage and domesticity in American culture. Homer Simpson, on the other hand, gives the viewer an atmosphere of the chauvinistic role of a father/husband in response to Marge’s mother/housewife title role. These attributes also show how gender roles are affected. In the typical modern American lifestyle, men are no longer the bread-winners of the household. Women are increasingly breaking from their past title roles of housewives, and becoming liberated from their monotonous “womanly” practices. The societal structures within The Simpsons mirrors some of the realities about the average American family. These animated feministic characteristics offer windows into the roles of not just the females, but also of the males who attempt to preserve their preferred standard of living. The purpose of this review is to bring to light the issues portrayed in The Simpsons about feminism, gender roles, and domesticity in past and present American culture.
Feminism
Since its debut in 1989 (Neuhaus 761), The Simpsons have defined every aspect of feminism; from the beliefs that men and women should have equal rights, to organized activities in support of women’s rights and interests, and even the theories of the political, economic,...

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...-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .
Field-Springer, Kimberly. "Douglas, Susan J. Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message That Feminism's Work Is Done." Women's Studies In Communication 35.1 (2012): 120-121. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Hammond, Joyce D. "Gender Inversion Cartoons and Feminism." Journal of Popular Culture 24.4 (1991): 145-160. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
Henry, Matthew. “Don't Ask Me, I'm Just a Girl”: Feminism, Female Identity, and The Simpsons." Journal of Popular Culture. 40.2 (2007): 272-303. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
Neuhaus, Jessamyn. "Marge Simpson, Blue-Haired Housewife: Defining Domesticity on The Simpsons." Journal of Popular Culture 43.4 (2010): 761-781. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

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