Boys’ and girls’ choices of tv programs also differ. Girls generally prefer watching cartoon movies with
emotional and romantic content while boys prefer watching the ones with violent content. The reason for that is two
genders have different emotions and ideas. Family and environment have very important effects on children’s
emotional development. “Parents discouraging boys from displays of sadness and fear, and girls from displays of
anger and aggression (Block, 1973, 1978:512-526)” lead stereotypes of emotions appear to develop early’’.
(Birnbaum et.al., 1980: 435-443). Reactions and inclinations shown in cartoon movies reflects stereotypes of
emotions developed with the attitude of the family. “Females should be more likely to report enjoyment of
entertainment that is likely to elicit “female appropriate” emotions (e.g., sad films, romance), whereas males should
be more likely than females to report enjoyment of entertainment that is likely to elicit “male appropriate” emotions
(e.g., violent films, action films) (Oliver ve Green, 2001: 71). Studies show that there are some improvements about
gender discrimination in cartoon movies. While in 1970s and before female and male cartoon characters manifest
common gender roles, especially after 1980s some changes can be seen in thro les of female and male characters.
According to Thompson and Zerbinos (1995) “more recent cartoons (after 1980s) include less gender stereotypes
according to the ones in the past (before 1980s)”. Another researcher who is aware of the improvement is Downs.
Downs (1981) reached to the result that “representation of stereotypical gender roles decreased in some TV
programs”. Similarly, Vande Berg and Streckfuss (1992) also detected some improvement in terms of the number
of females shown on screen and their jobs”. Bretle and Cantor (1988) observed that “there is a tendency towards
equal representation of women and men” and Signorielli ve Bacue (1999) also expressed that “although
representation of womwn is still not enough there is an improvement”. There had been an important differentiation
in representation of female characters’ gender role in the cartoons after 1980s. For example, “female characters
were more independent, were more independent, pretentious, clever, skilled, responsible and more helpful, stronger
and braver, less emotional, compassionate, sensitive and concerned compared to the past. Besides, female
characters were reflected as being more directive and helpful and as solving more problems compared to the past”
(Thompson ve Zerbinos, 1995:670) 670). There are also some changes in the representation of male characters.After 1980, male characters in cartoons began to be related with behaviors including violence less. Male characters
“boast less. We could not see ale characters do ordinary tasks or gossip but we do now.” (Thompson ve Zerbinos,
1995:670).