Comments on: Cap’n Crunch and Gender Stereotypes

By: Edent7

Edent7 — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:38:00 +0000

I mean, sure, Smedley is a boy elephant. But he’s also an elephant. Not human. We’re looking at cross-species gender issues? IT’S AN ELEPHANT. It’s listed activities are two things that would be funny to see an ELEPHANT do. Fine, the human female character fits into an awful female stereotype, existing solely to marry the Cap’n. And that’s wrong. But don’t go comparing her to a ‘male’ character who is another species.

By: Palaverer

Palaverer — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:55:16 +0000

Who do you think is eating this cereal? The target consumer is not adults, but children. It’s not an antique; it’s a cereal box, with cereal in it that gets eaten by children as they read the back of the box. The message may be recycled but it’s being served to a whole new audience with no trace of irony. And you think analyzing that is slander? Your comment is equal parts nasty and stupid.

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:35:30 +0000

I was to understand that these were “retro” cards, referring to characters that existed in an age where that was the norm. I had a good laugh about her card when I saw it and didn’t think it really reflected on any legitimately modern values. Any “retro” product is probably not being aimed at children of the day, but people who would remember the original product fondly or otherwise, but this article makes no mention of this and instead purports this image as being both relevant and aimed at a young audience. I find this intellectually dishonest at best and outright slander at worst. I’m sure there are plenty of images that could have better supported gender typing for /children/.

By: lady

lady — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 08:39:20 +0000

I am so happy this was posted! I almost sent it in when I saw it. How outrageous!

By: Keeley

Keeley — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:04:50 +0000

I thought the same thing!

By: Keeley

Keeley — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:03:44 +0000

Smedley isn’t even remotely the “Cap’n”; Cap’n Crunch, the main mascot for the cereal, is not pictured here, but is Magnolia’s crush.

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:20:18 +0000

@ Greg- you are right that there is also the human captain… But why is Smedley wearing the captain’s hat? As a joke? Anyway- he’s still male.

I agree with you now: “I still think the Cap’n is a separate character. It’s not the elephant that Magnolia wants to marry–as disturbing as that would be–it’s the actual human Captain.”

By: K

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:53:47 +0000

Wait, so are we getting into bestiality here?

By: Abbi

Abbi — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 05:26:16 +0000

I will point out that I’ve always thought of jumping rope as a more girly sport. So, there’s points for that. And Smedley occupies himself with other pretty gender neutral activities- riding bikes and roller skating.

By: Syd

Syd — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:29:19 +0000

Age may also play into this….Smedley is 12, so a child. Magnolia is drawn as an adult, probably at least middle aged, woman lusting after the Captain, who’s definitely up there in years. Was Magnolia a 12 year old girl, the card would probably still be quite stereotypical, but the age and weight stats would likely be much less prissy, and they’d switch out marriage for, IDK, dress up or some ‘girly’ sport.

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:25:23 +0000

Umm, I’m not familiar with it at all, but I suspect that Smedley isn’t the captain because his age is given as 12. Also, a quick google search reveals that the captain’s name is Horatio and looks quite human with a white mustache.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:59:10 +0000

OK. I did some quick research: http://www.lavasurfer.com/cereal-quakeroats.html

Smedley was apparently the mascot of Peanut Butter Crunch. That explains why I’ve never heard of him. When I was young (the eighties), we only had ONE flavour of Cap’n Crunch in Canada. As such, the other characters were never really featured in our advertising.

For me, I had no history with the character and I couldn’t think of anyone (real or fictional) with that name. So, there was nothing to help me assume the elephant was male.

I still think the Cap’n is a separate character. It’s not the elephant that Magnolia wants to marry–as disturbing as that would be–it’s the actual human Captain.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:47:37 +0000

Hi Kat, I guess I didn’t read Magnolia’s whole card because I was too busy puking ;)

If Smedley is indeed the “Cap’n” referred to, then I guess that does make it clear. I haven’t been a kid for a while, but I remember the Cap’n as being human; having a big mustache, which made it pretty easy to conclude he was male.

Thanks for pointing that out!

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:43:08 +0000

See above- Smedley is referred to as “him”.

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:42:42 +0000

Greg, Smedley IS the “Captain”, the “him” that Magnolia almost married. See his Captain hat?

SO THAT’s how we know that he is male (other than the manly name).