Why are bronies the first to have challenged gender roles on TV shows?

[cider float 2,538]

Wasn't there guys that were into Sailor Moon? 

[Steve Piranha 29,428]

Wasn't there guys that were into Sailor Moon? 

True, but I believe bronies were the first to OPENLY challenge gender roles within TV shows, but it was far from the first. We got others, while they had a big male fanbase, we weren't as open as we are with FiM, like the aforementioned Sailor Moon, Power Puff Girls (only in the sense of the main characters being cute girls, but it wasn't marketed towards little girls), and Card Captor Sakura . I believe I've watched a watchmojo video about the topic

[PiratePony 8,475]

@@cider float, the topic wasn't very specific in the feed, so I adjusted it slightly to have the point of discussion more clear. 

 

Interesting point of discussion. I personally have always enjoyed female roles in film and TV and didn't see Pony as the first, and there have been certain shows that had all female lead cast that were smash hits (Golden Girls comes to mind) but I see that this is a HUGE fanbase and it's really getting things in the spot light, especially because the color scheme/history of the toy line/it really has made an impact. 

[Anonymous Old User Who Has Left 599]

We weren't the first. Many others before us have, but they shut themselves in the closet, while we paraded the streets of the internet chatting and showing to everybody about it.

[Grepper 3,192]

Like others said, bronies aren't the first to challenge gender roles in watching TV shows, but they are the most well-known. Maybe because people think it's more strange to like a show with magical ponies in it than a show with human girls as the main characters. Also, Sailor Moon was airing before the internet was commonly available in the household, so it couldn't have a large online community.

[cider float 2,538]

We weren't the first. Many others before us have, but they shut themselves in the closet, while we paraded the streets of the internet chatting and showing to everybody about it.

That had to be it. The internet lead about this.

[Jeric 46,854]

The internet and most specifically social and content creation sites were the key variables that didn't exist in most prior shows. Also ... My Little Pony had decades of preexisting expectations in the general public which is why media outlets picked it up. I was buying the toys for my kids in the early 2000's for example. Sailor Moon didn't have the same general penetration numbers with the average household that the Pony brand did.

[Dark Qiviut 22,443]

It's not the first, but it's easily the most well-known. We've had fanbases that challenged gender roles before, most notably The Powerpuff Girls (not the crappy soft reboot). But back then, the Internet wasn't that accessible, so PPG didn't have a boisterousness that bronydom has. Sailor Moon started before the Internet became accessible, and it was initially geared to teenage and adult males before Toei decided to change marketed demographics for the anime. Today, billions of people have 'Net access, so people have more avenues to open up and discuss appreciation for FIM to other worldwide outlets.

[That Guy with the CMB 5,873]

Because you shouldn't be watching it. You should be watching football and getting drunk with friends and screaming at the television because you're a male, and being different is bad. Don't be different.

 

 

Nah jk

 

 

People, before you SLAM your left-click in disgust on the "quote" button under my post and get ready to write a dissertation on why I'm a scumbag, please consider that I DON'T have a problem with you if you like to get drunk and scream at football games. That's your business, not mine - and I respect that. As long as you don't involve me or pretend that I should be doing the same. Now PLEASE, cursor off the button, and continue reading.

 

People should keep their nose out of something like that. Unless a show clearly has a negative impact on someone, you really shouldn't nose into people's choice in what they watch on TELEVISION, of all things. That's being really...nosy. Nobody should care. So what if it was always considered a show for little girls? I guess people aren't ready to accept it, although we're always pretending to be tolerant...hm...

 

 

...Why do I get the feeling somebody is going to try and tell me off for this post? Ah, well. Guess I'll have to ignore them.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Eazyfries

[Leave a Whisper 703]

What makes you think you have? Especially in such a petty area as cartoons.

 

Sorry, you can start believing you challenged gender stereotypes when you've made a legitimate difference in society. Watching a little kid's show and telling people that you like it online doesn't count.

 

For the record there are also plenty of guys before you, who liked girls media and wasn't ashamed to admit it and vice versa.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Leave a Whisper

[cuteycindyhoney 13,308]

while we paraded the streets of the internet chatting and showing to everybody about it.

That is a nice turn of phrase. "Paraded the streets of the internet". I like it.

[Black Sabbath 2,486]

Since when have we ever challenged gender roles? Sure, we have whined about them on the internet but we are hardly the first who have done something like that.  

[Jeric 46,854]

Since when have we ever challenged gender roles? Sure, we have whined about them on the internet but we are hardly the first who have done something like that.

Curiously, it doesn't matter if the fandom as a whole intentionally set out to do that. Even if this was not the case and we didn't directly challenge gender roles, the fact that this topic exisist means the perception that we did is a consequence of this fandom. That perception was likely helped along by media reporting on the fandom as well as several in the community mentioning it in fandom apologetics videos that received quite a number of views.

 

I tend to think that a strong case can be easily made that we are challenging gender roles simply based on the impressions of the general public as we consume the show and merchandise based on it, it still comes down to a matter of perspective and how much influence that perspective has.

[Black Sabbath 2,486]

Curiously, it doesn't matter if the fandom as a whole intentionally set out to do that. 

But it matters that people think we challenge gender roles even though we're not? 

[Gestum 2,493]

Sorry to break it to you, but we're not the first. Nor are we the most famous. Both of those prizes goes to feminists.

 

Also we are not in any way breaking gender roles. We're watching a cartoon and then go and complain that it's to girly.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Gestum

[Jeric 46,854]

But it matters that people think we challenge gender roles even though we're not?

Yes and no depending on what you mean by 'matters'. Since there can be catalysts that unintentionally create a viable coalesence according to various social movement theories ... yes. Even if something is not intentional, perspective itself can become the reality to some.

 

Of course mobilization theory isn't applicable in this context, it is not the only way a person can influence or otherwise challenge a perceived status quo.

Sorry to break it to you, but we're not the first. Nor are we the most famous. Both of those prices goes to feminists.

 

Also we are not in any way breaking gender roles. We're watching a cartoon and then go and complain that it's to girly.

I assume that the OP was focusing on media consumption paradigms since he mentioned Sailor Moon. I mean, Adams and Addams obviously predate Pony.

[Gestum 2,493]

I assume that the OP was focusing on media consumption paradigms since he mentioned Sailor Moon. I mean, Adams and Addams obviously predate Pony.

I'm pretty sure that feminists also were the first to challenge gender roles in media. And it's certainly the most famous group of people who are known for that.

[Solid 1,327]

I don't think we were the first, but due to advancement of the Internet media and communication technology, we are probably more in the spotlight compared to earlier fandoms which may not have been receiving so much attention.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Solid

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

It's a show that's for girls and good. Though MLP isn't the first to put two and two together, the fact that shows that are for girls are still not expected to be good in most circles (with many works consequentially living up to the stereotype) and the notion that a show's gender bias influences its creative quality shows an incredible amount of slack in the entertainment and licensing industry. MLP is the exception now so shows like it can become the norm in the future.

 

As for bronies, we've just mastered the art of not giving a fuck.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Wind Chaser

[Limeblossom 482]

Wasn't there guys that were into Sailor Moon? 

That's right. And they're still watching the series.

[Zeal Crown 196]

To be honest, My Little Pony got lucky. The show was created to sell toys, yes, but the creators working on the show wanted it to be something much more then just a giant advertisement. The quality of the show had attracted the same audience that it would have attracted if The Powerpuff Girls had aired at the same time. Everyone knows the quality and such is what brought about the fandom, but I believe the reason why other shows hadn't before is just because of the time.

 

At the time of the other shows airing, the internet wasn't as mainstream. When shows like The Powerpuff Girls aired, the lack of a mainstream internet had set a bit of a barrier for people to talk about their love of the show, and convince others to watch alongside. When My Little Pony aired, it had a following of people who wanted to watch it (for whatever reason. Poke fun or something) that had brought a little attention to it. After it's quality was revealed, these fans grew to love it. The difference is that they had a place to share this new-found love of a girly show, and through different means, the fandom has just grown to what it is today.

 

So to summarize, the internet's ability to open up more communication was the spark to spread the MLP influence around the world.

[CT-1138 3,182]

I don't think we're the first (PPG certainly had its fair share of male viewers), but we're certainly the most notable and successful. PPG never gained a large cult following like we Bronies made, and thus never made the leap from subculture to fandom. 

[Fhaolan 4,484]

I find it's interesting that most people seem to have focused on males liking female-aimed media fandoms. First, that goes back a long, long time. Cartoons like Jem and the Holograms predate Sailor Moon,I believe. There was also the Wonder Woman fandom for comics. Older than that are all the male Jane Austin fans and the like. Admittedly those don't have the most... vocal fandoms.

 

However, if you look at the reverse, females likeing male-aimed media fandoms; you do have one big vocal fandom. Trekkies.

 

I know the media always liked to portray Trekkies as lonely male nerds and the like, but that was pretty far from the truth. Most of the prolific Trekkies, the fanfic writers, artists, and the like from the 70's were women. And a lot of those fanfics and fanart were the reason for the terms 'Mary Sue' and 'Slashfics'.

[cider float 2,538]

I suppose it was a combination of internet and the change of political culture. If the left didn't get this much headway bronies would still be in the dark.

[Leave a Whisper 703]

And yet the most vocal members of this fandom still acknowledge gender stereotype by complaining about anything Girly and patting themselves on the back. It's hypocritical and serves only to stroke egos.

 

 

Challenging gender stereotypes is about being easy in your skin and not bashing the other gender to make yourself feel good. Why don't you challenge gender stereotypes by speaking out for men who are ridiculed by cops for filing domestic abuse cases against their wives or help women in oppressive countries empower themselves?