The Lorax: Female Style
By Erin Day
Preface
Dr. Seuss Books
Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, is one of the most accomplished children’s authors of
all time, as he is admired for his creativity and innovative word play that few other authors have been
able to live up to. While Dr. Seuss books may be beneficial in certain aspects, such as by helping to develop
young children’s skills and passion for reading, in inspiring their creativity, and for mere enjoyment, Seuss’
books also portray an immense imbalance in gender roles. Not only do men make up the majority of
characters, but they furthermore play a more significant role in the stories than female characters do.
Examples of Dr. Seuss Books which portray Gender Stereotypes
There are several examples where this gender imbalance is prevalent. In The Lorax, there are virtually no
female characters, and when the film industry did take the initiative to add a few female characters in the
2012 movie The Lorax, females only played minor roles such as girlfriends and mothers (Smith). The Cat
in the Hat is another Seuss book which exemplifies the gender stereotypes present in many of his books.
According to Holly Brewer, author for the psychology website Heal Guidance, gender stereotypes are
simplistic and inaccurate generalizations that are often unintentionally passed down from generation to
generation (Brewer). Certain characteristics that Brewer believes are male stereotypes include the desire
to be in charge, messiness, and irresponsibility of taking care of children. The Cat in the Hat exhibits each
of these characteristics and others. To display his “manly” power, The Cat barges into a house
unwelcomed, picking up an innocent fish and refusing to let go even as the fish screams “put me down.”
The Cat also partakes in numerous irresponsible activities like flying kites in the house and balancing rakes
and vases on his hat while the children’s mother is away, leaving the house in complete disorder. In The
Cat in the Hat, The Cat is not the only character who exhibits stereotypical traits. Unsurprisingly, Conrad,
the young boy in the story, is the one who comes to the rescue and captures Thing 1 and Thing 2, while
his sister, Sally, hides behind a wall. Though the plot is rather silly, the underlying gender messages are
noting to be taken lightly.
The Occasional Female Character
Simply adding female characters, though, does not necessarily change the significance that girls play in
Dr. Seuss books. Mayzie McGrew, for instance, is certainly a female protagonist, but her character does
nothing to reduce the gender stereotypes that the books exude; in fact, Mayzie only reinforces them. For
those of you who are unfamiliar with the book, Mayzie Daisy Head depicts the story of a young girl named
Mayzie who suddenly starts to grow a flower out of her head. In analyzing Mayzie Daisy Head, Steve
Barancik, a children’s book writer, notes that “things happen to [Mayzie], but she doesn’t do much about
them” (Barancik). Cindy Lou Who, on the other hand, another female protagonist, does play a more
significant role in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but her heroic actions in saving Christmas are
nonetheless still reduced through gender stereotypes. Unlike the manly persona that The Cat in the Hat
is given, Cindy is portrayed as a shy little girl. Her dominance is further reduced through the books’ and
2000 film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, physical description of her: a pink dress and a soft-spoken
voice, to further highlight her delicacy. These gender stereotypes prevent females her from emitting the
strong and imposing character many of Seuss’ male protagonists possess.
Why are the Gender Stereotypes in Dr. Seuss Books so Detrimental?
As evident as the gender stereotypes in Dr. Seuss books may be, some people believe that they will not
harm or even be noticed by children (Cheaney). While children may not immediately comprehend the
underlying gender messages in Seuss’ books, children do not often forget about a book immediately after
they read it. The majority of kids re-read and reenact their favorite books over and over again, reinforcing
messages that may have gone over their heads the first time around. Because Dr. Seuss books are so
popular among young children, readers often idolize the characters as heroes and as models as to how
they should behave. Research shows that people tend to conform to the stereotypes that they read about,
which influence their attitudes and behaviors. For example, a study found that girls who are exposed to
books with gender stereotypes are less likely to become authors (Narahara). On the other hand, research
has also shown that children who are exposed to books that convey a broader view of gender norms tend
to acquire an open-minded attitude about gender roles. Therefore, while children may not be immediately
affected by the gender stereotypes portrayed by Dr. Seuss books, the books’ messages will be solidified
and become more influential over time.
How This Book is Different
I chose to rewrite and modernize Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, incorporating a mélange famous of Dr. Seuss
characters, in order to exaggerate the gender stereotypes portrayed by many of Seuss’ books and to
appeal to today’s generation of children. The Lorax: Female Style portrays gender roles in the expanded
light that Dr. Seuss books fail to do, with girls taking on more dominant roles. The purpose of this revision
is to reinforce positive gender stereotypes, so that when children act out characters from The Lorax
Female Style, boys will not always play the role of the hero, while girls must be reduced to the girlfriend
of a male protagonist, as they would if they were to act out other Dr. Seuss books. I hope that this book
sparks the beginning of the transformation of an expanded role of gender in children’s literature. While
ideally all books should be written in this open-minded attitude, it is inevitable that children will obtain
biased ideas about gender stereotypes in books and in life. It is therefore, essential, that parents teach
their children to recognize but not be affected by the stereotypes portrayed by the books and to always
aspire for great things regardless of their gender.
Works Cited
“Ballerino Nate.” Buffao & Erie County Public Library. Web. 27 March 2016.
"Princess Smartypants." Goodreads. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
Narahara, May M. "Gender Stereotypes in Children's Picture Books." Document Resume. 1998.
Web.
Smith, Crystal. "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax: Why Such a Stereotyped View of Girls and Boys?" BlogHer
Editors. 05 Mar. 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
Barancik, Steve. "Daisy-Head Mayzie: Seuss Book with Girl Hero!" Best Children's Books. Web. 21
Mar. 2016.