Representation of Gender in Television Programs Comparative Study Colah Ghermezi New Year Series & Big hero 6 Animation

In cultural and media studies, investigating how social roles, ethnicity, sub-cultures and specially men and women are represented, holds great significance. One of the educational functions of the media with respect to children is role representation and gender stereotypes. This article aims to compare Iranian and foreign child-audience TV programs considering “gender” focusing on “Kolah Ghermezi” New Year Puppet Series and Disney Animations. Examining how gender is represented in “Kolah Ghermezi Puppet Series (Version 2015) and “Big Hero 6” animation, this research also shows what kind of concepts and values are presented to the audience.
Accordingly, applying social constructionism theories of representation elaborated by Stuart Hall and based on gender stereotype concept, the author qualitatively analyzes media texts through semiotic approach. In doing so, the latest version of “Kolah Ghermezi” New Year puppet series, that is version 2015, and “Big Hero 6” animation were purposefully selected. The results are indicative of the fact that women are less represented in both programs. In the former, the said representation occurs through traditional stereotypes, and in the latter, the same goes along with deconstruction of gender stereotypes. Moreover, in both programs “positive” concepts and values are more represented than negative ones. However, “Big hero 6” holds a greater role in this regard.