Since 2003, Common Sense Media has suggested suitable children’s entertainment to parents and educators. In addition to rating TV series and movies based on age-appropriate content and the prevalence of positive messaging, Common Sense will now also be grading media based on its depiction of gender. Per The New York Times, Common Sense has implemented a new “positive gender representations” seal, which denotes “that reviewers judged it to prompt boys and girls to think beyond traditional gender roles.”
After surveying about 1,000 parents across the country, Common Sense found that most were concerned about how representations of gender could influence their kids. In particular, “African-Americans were the most worried about what their children watched. More than white or Latino parents, they expressed concern about boys shown as violent or aggressive, girls’ obsessing about their appearance, and the way African-American girls and boys are portrayed.” Thus, the new gender metric was developed.
A few titles that have received the gender seal of approval so far include “Hidden Figures” and “Bones,” which portray women in STEM professions, an area where women in real life are often shut out. Other recipients include “Wonder Woman,” which depicts powerful female fighting in WWI, and “MasterChef” and “Billy Elliot,” where males’ love of cooking and dancing are celebrated.
Best Picture winner “Moonlight” also received a recommendation, even though it includes scenes of drug use and violence. “I can’t think of any title that has prompted more talk about what it means to be an African-American young man, about opening up more possibilities, than that movie,” explained Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media’s executive editor for ratings and reviews.
While most of the titles that have been graded thus far center on cis characters, Common Sense is planning to rate representations of transgender characters as well. However, no series or film has been graded on their trans portrayals yet.
Common Sense Media also warns that the new seal isn’t the final judgment on a show or movie’s overall worth. “Just because a movie doesn’t get the seal doesn’t mean it’s not funny or entertaining or not worth your family’s time,” Bozdech said. “We’re just looking to call out the ones going above and beyond.”
A nonprofit media watchdog group, Common Sense reportedly boasts five million unique web users per month and connects with 45 million American households each month via its leases with cable companies. Check out the organization’s website for more information on the gender seal.
