In 1983 Hasbro introduced a toy line by Bonnie Zacherle called My Pretty Pony. The initial designs of the equines featured “realistic” colors and proportions of typical pony breeds, but were later changed to pastel colored bodies complete with a “cutie mark” applied to the pony’s flank for identification purposes. The ponies would continue on as a popular series of dolls with brushable manes and tails throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. In recent years, the ponies are seeing a resurgence of popularity. This is partially due to a reboot of the 1980’s cartoon show currently airing on Discovery Family, the family entertainment channel co-owned by Hasbro. As a result, the My Little Pony franchise continues to expand and garner the toy company
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They perceive Brony behavior somehow detracts from a young man’s masculinity. Yet there still remain delineations about acceptable norms for being manly while still actively participating in a fandom depending on the genre. The implication being a fan of a media franchise is fine, so long as that media text does not encroach against appropriate gender standards. Precepts regarding gender norms and acceptable gender roles are regularly enforced across social institutions from an early age and continue throughout life as many fans must contend with these conditions at home, in school, and other public places in their daily lives from parents, peers, and authority figures or face the negative consequences for their …show more content…
Compounding those charges against a Brony’s masculinity coupled with the potential stigma of shame for failing to follow gender norms leave many fans in a conundrum. Will these fans choose to openly defy gender norms by engaging fan practices in public or will they heavily self monitor their actions along the lines of expected gender practices while secretly enjoying ponies in private? Regardless of whether a Brony is private or public fan about their fandom, their participation in the fandom is changing commonly held perceptions of
They perceive Brony behavior somehow detracts from a young man’s masculinity. Yet there still remain delineations about acceptable norms for being manly while still actively participating in a fandom depending on the genre. The implication being a fan of a media franchise is fine, so long as that media text does not encroach against appropriate gender standards. Precepts regarding gender norms and acceptable gender roles are regularly enforced across social institutions from an early age and continue throughout life as many fans must contend with these conditions at home, in school, and other public places in their daily lives from parents, peers, and authority figures or face the negative consequences for their …show more content…
Compounding those charges against a Brony’s masculinity coupled with the potential stigma of shame for failing to follow gender norms leave many fans in a conundrum. Will these fans choose to openly defy gender norms by engaging fan practices in public or will they heavily self monitor their actions along the lines of expected gender practices while secretly enjoying ponies in private? Regardless of whether a Brony is private or public fan about their fandom, their participation in the fandom is changing commonly held perceptions of