Sexist language in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?

I downloaded some episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse the other day. Ethan's been down with a bug this week so he's watched them a few times now and I just realised in one of them, Goofy says "those broads are in the way" !!! I noticed because Ethan repeated it! Now am I being over sensitive or is this sexist and just plain rude? I don't really want my 5 year old son going around saying stuff like this.

Leave it to a child to repeat the one thing that bothered you! LOL! The thing about kids, is they are so good at picking up on your reaction. If you gasped or commented when Goofy said that, Ethan would definitely notice and probably try to get that reaction from you again. 

I think it is a bit inappropriate, but what year was the show from? It sounds like it's a generational thing. 

I've never seen the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so I don't know exactly what they show...but I know there's been millions of discussions before about the rascism/sexism of Disney...in general...possibly due to Walt Disney's own personal beliefs?  Maybe this "theme" has carried over to the Clubhouse show also. 

I think it also depends on when that particular cartoon was made.  I'm not so sure the term 'broad' would have been offensive in the 50's and 60's so if it's an older cartoon...well...it might just be "out-dated" (for lack of a better word).

It was made in 2007.

The word "broad" isn't commonly used here in this way, so I guess what I'm really looking for is opinions from American women as to whether this word is considered offensive (I thought it was) and therefore not appropriate for a children's cartoon.

2007!!!! I was thinking it was really old! 

Yes, it is inappropriate.

Yeah, I wouldn't be too happy to be called a 'broad'.

It's definitely out-dated; however, I equate broad with bird.  I don't find it offensive, but on the other hand, I'm not overly enamoured either.

I downloaded some episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse the other day. Ethan's been down with a bug this week so he's watched them a few times now and I just realised in one of them, Goofy says "those broads are in the way" !!! I noticed because Ethan repeated it! Now am I being over sensitive or is this sexist and just plain rude? I don't really want my 5 year old son going around saying stuff like this.

I agree with you that it's inappropriate, I'm quite shocked it was made in 2007, it's such an antiquated phrase....but...the idea of your little five year old saying "hey these Broads are in the way!" to you or some other ladies is pretty cute/funny!  

Sorry!

If you look it up in a few online dictionaries it does say "Often Offensive Slang"...and also "a prostitute."  I've never been called that (to my face anyway) but I would probably be offended if someone said that to me. 

It does seem like a very antiquated word though.  Has anyone ever heard this word used in "normal" conversation (i.e. not on TV)?

It does seem like a very antiquated word though.  Has anyone ever heard this word used in "normal" conversation (i.e. not on TV)?

Unfortunately yes, my dad says it on occasion.  But then again a lof of the leading males my family have been known to say things that they shouldn't...   

My main concern isn't so much what DD is learning off TV at the moment, but what she's copying off my MIL that MIL is teaching her: sexy knees / knobly knees and the phrase "Flip a dick" (although not bad, not necessarily what you want to hear coming out of a 2 yo's mouth).     I just try not to react and she stops, like when she copppied "bugger" off DH...  Part of it's reactional and another part of it's experimental.

Ethan's too young to understand why what he said is inappropriate and it's too complex to explain it just yet.  If it's really bothering you and he continues saying it (and you keep reacting to it) you might want to try sitting him down and try explaining that it's not something very nice what Goofy said and it shouldn't be repeated and if it is it'll have x consequense.    

Ah the joys of Disney and parenting!

It is rude and offensive. I am really surprised. Perhaps elderly editors? Even if it were not considered rude, I still don't think it's appropriate for children. I mean bird is not rude but I'd rather my boy not refer to the female gender as birds. Chicks would be better. JOKING!

I remember both my grandfather and father using it. And it was always in the car aimed at women drivers. So it was used in a disparaging way.

Now they were both born and bred in Scotland until well into adulthood. I suspect they picked this up in St Louis in the 50's because it's not a term I think I have ever heard here. Now they did add their British flavour to it as in that bloody broad just cut in front.

the phrase "Flip a dick" (although not bad, not necessarily what you want to hear coming out of a 2 yo's mouth).   

what in the heck does that mean? I can only imagine.

Ethan's too young to understand why what he said is inappropriate and it's too complex to explain it just yet.  If it's really bothering you and he continues saying it (and you keep reacting to it) you might want to try sitting him down and try explaining that it's not something very nice what Goofy said and it shouldn't be repeated and if it is it'll have x consequense.    

Ah the joys of Disney and parenting!

I believe in reacting by explaining things to them, like how some adults speak and are 'allowed' to, why we do and why we should not and why they should not. Takes a few times. There will be new words and new ground to test but again try an explain what the word means, ie is it just a bad word, a really bad word, a racist word, a sexist word. Has to be explained on their level real basic. My boy is 6 and he sort of understands the term racist, he has asked me as a result of community service type TV ads. Some words, and we all know those words, just cannot be explained. So far it has worked for 3 kids.

 Dear mother tried the soap trick. It defintely didn't *bleep*ing work.

edited cuz I forgot a part and hit send

what in the heck does that mean? I can only imagine.

I had to look it up.  It's supposed to mean a u-turn, but my MIL uses it to replace "the F word"...   

I had to look it up.  It's supposed to mean a u-turn, but my MIL uses it to replace "the F word"...   

  Suppose it's better than the F word but still. That'd be no use to me though. I really couldn't see that rolling of my tongue when I bash my thumb with the hammer and flip-a-dick sakes just doesn't have that ring to it. 

It's definitely out-dated; however, I equate broad with bird.  I don't find it offensive, but on the other hand, I'm not overly enamoured either.

I'm in this camp. There are very few slang terms for women that aren't mildlly offensive, but on a scale of 1 to 10, it's a firm 1.

My mum used to use it in an almost flattering way. To her, a woman that was a "tough old broad" deserved her utmost respect. There are many more things to worry about than the word "broad".


Oh, and my mum would also say, "flip a b*tch" to mean u-turn.

Suppose it's better than the F word but still. That'd be no use to me though. I really couldn't see that rolling of my tongue when I bash my thumb with the hammer and flip-a-dick sakes just doesn't have that ring to it.  

LOL, very true.  MIL usually says it when something doesn't go quite right, rather than heat of the moment full on pain induced need to curse.    She's only done that one just the once during a nappy change saying: "oh dick, oh dick - flip a dick."  I had to stop myself from laughing cause she was saying it so calmly and didn't want to make a big deal of it.  Having tried in the past to ask in-laws to stop saying "shut up" all the time failed in a ball of flames as soon as it came out of my mouth and their reply was that they don't says "shut up" (like porcupines don't have quills) and then DH defending them that it's "Yorkshire"...  I've kind of given up on the small things with them to avoid confrontation over mostly harmless language...

It's just my FIL we all have to watch with his foul mind and mouth.  He sounds a bit like your Dad & Grandad...  I suspect it's a generational thing, but he was raised allowed to get his own way by his Mum and Aunt, so by the time MIL got to him nothing really seems to penetrate.  He still pouts worse than a 2 yo when he doesn't get his way and he's 67!

I'm in this camp. There are very few slang terms for women that aren't mildlly offensive, but on a scale of 1 to 10, it's a firm 1.

My mum used to use it in an almost flattering way. To her, a woman that was a "tough old broad" deserved her utmost respect. There are many more things to worry about than the word "broad".


Oh, and my mum would also say, "flip a b*tch" to mean u-turn.

I think with Bird & Broad it depends on the context it's used in.  I'm not excusing ignorance, but it's the intent behind a word that makes it offensive and give it it's power.  I've heard broad used in general conversation multiple times without thinking of it in a negative connotation until looking into it further, but I can see how it can be done; again down to the context of the usage.

When I looked up flip a dick I've seen flip a b*tch at the alterative usage.  Neither really sounds flattering prostpectively coming out of a 2yo's mouth.  Again this is a context preference in my mind, but then again I don't like seeing / hearing small children using sexually suggestive words, especially when they have no clue as to the meaning.  I know you can't shelter children for life, but teaching words and phrases to small children who can't grasp the concept of what they're saying and only repeating out of what they hear doesn't seem conductive to anything, but breeding ignorance and then contempt from those around you IMO.