BURBANK, Calif. — “The Hub,” a children’s network co-owned by Hasbro and Discovery Channel, is introducing a new cartoon heroine named “SheZow” in an animated series slated to debut on Saturday, according to a press release. The gender identity of the character is drawing ire from conservative parents, unnerved at the sheer suggestion of gender-exploration as a positive thing.
“Nothing says ‘child-appropriate material’ quite like gender-bending underage superheroes,” wrote Ben Shapiro of Breitbart News.
Shapiro described the premise of the show, which follows a 12-year-old boy named “Guy” who uses a magic ring to transform into a crime-fighting girl, calling it a “soon-to-be-dud.”
“Yes, you read that correctly,” Shapiro writes. “When Guy says the magic words – “You go girl!” – he becomes SheZow, wearing a purple skirt and cape, as well as pink gloves and white boots.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Hub CEO Margaret Loesch, had her doubts about the series at first too.
“When I first heard about the show, my reaction was ‘Are you out of your minds?’” said Loeschof the series created by “Julius & Friends’” Obie Scott Wade. “Then I looked at it, and I thought ‘This is just funny.’”
GLAAD is already having to do reconnaissance around transphobic reactions to the show’s premise, refuting any critique of the show for “promoting” transgender themes.
“The Breitbart News article is just a laughable attempt at attention seeking,” said Rich Ferraro, spokesman for GLAAD, regarding Shapiro’s article. “It is comparable to Jerry Falwell attacking the Teletubbies, and demonstrates a profound ignorance of transgender people since this show doesn’t include any.”
It’s true the show doesn’t include any overt references to transgender identity and actually seems to promote non-misogyny, though not exactly outright feminism.
The show describes its main character as follows:
“Twelve-year-old Guy is an extreme dude who inherits the power ring of his deceased aunt – the amazing superhero SheZow,” writes The Hub of SheZow on its website. “The ring gives him villain-battling super powers, but was meant to be worn by a girl and the result is absolutely she-larious!”
Awaiting the debut, our fingers are crossed that the potential spoofs, problematic memes, and otherwise awful anti-genderqueer backlash, isn’t too intense and instead, the show refutes any societal qualms over boys “fighting like girls.”
