# Why so few female puppet characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399 "2009-01-28T17:11:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/1 "2009-01-28T17:11:18Z")
There have been lots of famous puppet and ventriloquist characters over the years, many of them Jim Henson’s Muppets. But I can think of only two who are female: Shari Lewis’s Lamb Chop, and Miss Piggy. The rest are minor characters, like hippie-chick Janice on _The Muppet Show_. Why such a low ratio? Are female puppet characters not funny? I don’t think it’s a matter of there being more male puppeteers — they could do female voices if they wanted. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/2 "2009-01-28T17:32:27Z")
Well the Muppets had plenty of minor female characters but I understand your point. There was the awful [Madame](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayland_Flowers)operated by Wayland Flowers. You might be lucky enough to have forgotten her. Then there was Judy of course from Punch and Judy. Mr. Rogers had some female puppets but I don’t recall the names anymore. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/3 "2009-01-28T17:35:24Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Mr. Rogers had some female puppets but I don’t recall the names anymore. Henrietta Pussycat and the old lady with the carousel thingy and Lady whatshername. Mind like a steel trap. Edit: Heh. I made two out of one: the carousel thingy was the museum-go-round, run by Lady Elaine Fairchilde. The “Lady whatshername” I was thinking of was Queen Sara Saturday. There were others, too: [cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhood_of_Make-Believe#Regular_Puppets). ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/4 "2009-01-28T17:38:11Z")
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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/5 "2009-01-28T17:43:46Z")
I forgot all the female characters Mr. Rogers had in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe: Ana Platypus, Betty Okonak Templeton-Jones, Collette, Cousin Mary Owl, Elsie Jean Platypus, Harriett Elizabeth Cow, Henrietta Pussycat, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, Mrs. Frogg, Princess Margeret H. Lizard, and Queen Sara Saturday. I particularly liked the cranky Lady Elaine Fairchilde, who was frequently up to no good. What female puppets there were at the time were often such passive goody-goods. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/6 "2009-01-28T17:44:13Z")
A new mom friend of mine was just remarking upon this the other day. She grew up with Sesame Street and The Muppets, but I don’t think she really noticed the disparity until she had a little girl herself. She’s also not too happy with the ratio of little girls to little boys in the books she’s been gifted and the cartoons she’s been screening (the kid’s barely one, so TV and DVDs are just starting to come into the equation). But she’s ga ga over **Dora the Explorer** , as are most little kids, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/7 "2009-01-28T17:48:36Z")
No, I think the fact that they are male puppeteers has a lot to do with it. (Note that Lamb Chop had a female puppeteer.) You tend to create characters of your own sex unless there’s a reason otherwise. I did see **Avenue Q** this weekend, which has several female puppets and puppeteers. But that was a show, with a plot that required both males and females. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/8 "2009-01-28T17:49:24Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > \ I was going to crackwise the same way, but was beaten too it by a total perv. \*Curse you![/size] ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/9 "2009-01-28T18:58:49Z")
Back in the day, _The Great Space Coaster_ had some bird named Knock-Knock who I’m fairly sure was the female friend of Goriddle Gorilla. More recently, but I’m not sure if it’s still on, there was some PBS show called _The Puzzle Place_ which made sure to have its racially diverse puppet cast split 50/50 along gender lines. I think the older large ensemble Henson productions were really the worst “offenders” for female main character puppets. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/10 "2009-01-28T19:19:47Z")
Sesame Street has made an effort in the last decade or so to add female muppets to its cast. They’ve given Baby Bear a sister who’s on quite a bit, created Zoe, added Rosita (with her Spanish speaking background to bring in that demographic more) made Prairie Dawn a regular again, and of course this years addition of the Fairy who’s name I’ve forgotten because my kids aren’t as big of fans of the show anymore. There’s also a girl grouch who shows up for several skits each season. That said, the majority of the story lines do seem to still revolve around the three boys, Telly, Baby Bear, and of course Elmo, with the girls being supporting characters to what the boys are doing. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/11 "2009-01-28T19:36:17Z")
Don’t forget Fraggle Rock, Also a Henson Production. The 4 main characters were evenly split. Gobo and Boober were boys while Red and Mookie were girls. I can’t believe I still remember this stuff. Grandpa Satch ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/12 "2009-01-28T20:01:20Z")
I thought Lambchop was a boy? I always thought of muppets and puppets as generic “kids”. Kermit was just a frog to me (until he and Miss Piggy started their hopeless love affair). Fozzy Bear could have been female, no? I know the puppeteer says he was male, but he could have been female. Same with Scooter from The Muppets–he could have been androgynous like SNL’s Pat… They’re puppets. There are tons of books out there for little girls, especially once they start chapter books. Check with your local children’s librarian. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/13 "2009-01-28T20:39:36Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Mind like a steel trap. Rusty, and illegal in most states? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/14 "2009-01-28T20:50:07Z")
I don’t truly want to speculate _why_ this is, but observe the typical cartoon ensemble: at random I’ll choose Scooby-Doo (Hanna-Barbera), the Simpsons (Groening), and Looney Toons (Warner Bros). I’ll list the actors in each, and name which characters they’re famous for. **Scooby-Doo** [Don Messick](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582106/): Scooby-Doo, Astro, Papa Smurf, Hamton J. Pig, Boo Boo, Bamm-Bamm, Muttley, et al. [Frank Welker](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919798/): Freddy Jones, Dynomutt, Mxyzptlk, Iceman, Megatron, Ray Stantz, Slimer, et al. [Casey Kasem](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919798/): Shaggy, Robin. [Nicole Jaffe](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0415476/): Velma. [Stephanianna Christopherson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0160652/): Daphne. **The Simpsons** [Dan Castellaneta](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144657/): Homer, Grandpa, Mayor Quimby, Pimply Teen, Krusty, Groundkeeper Willie, Barney, et al. [Harry Shearer](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790434/): Burns, Smithers, Skinner, Lovejoy, Hibbard, Otto, et al. [Hank Azaria](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000279/): Moe, Wiggum, Snake, Apu, Frink, et al. [Julie Kavner](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001413/): Marge, Patty, Selma. [Yeardley Smith](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810379/): Lisa. [Nancy Cartwright](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004813/): Bart, Ralph, Nelson, Chuckie Finster. [Pamela Hayden](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0370789/): Milhouse. [Tress MacNeille](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534134/):Agnes Skinner, Daisy Duck, Babs Bunny, et al. **Looney Tunes** [Mel Blanc](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000305/): Bugs, Daffy, Elmer, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Porky Pig, etc., etc., etc., Barney Rubble, Dino, Speed Buggy, Mr. Spacely, et al. [June Foray](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004931/): Granny, Witch Hazel, Betty Rubble, Rocky J. Flying Squirrel, et al. For every June Foray or Tress MacNeille or Christine Cavanaugh (Dexter), there’s two or three men with equal or greater voice versatility: Welker, Blanc, Messick, Jeff Bennett (Johnny Bravo), Azaria, Castellaneta, Shearer, et al. One is tempted to draw a few conclusions from that: either women get fewer opportunities (fewer roles written) that showcase their vocal versatility, or women aren’t encouraged to be as good at it (which seems odd, since there’s no shortage of actresses) or casting directors cast men and women differently (men for versatility, women for single characters) or some other reason. There just don’t seem to be _as many_ versatile working female voice artists. The most successful ones have little versatility, and the most versatile ones aren’t famous outside the industry. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/15 "2009-01-28T20:55:02Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I thought Lambchop was a boy? Shari Lewis on Lamb Chop: “I really don’t analyze her personality too much. Too much analysis of that which is magic makes the magic go away. Lamb Chop works so organically, she is a very trustworthy ad-libber.” (Washington Post, June 18, 1982, p. C7) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/16 "2009-01-28T21:28:43Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > Don’t forget Fraggle Rock, Also a Henson Production. The 4 main characters were evenly split. Gobo and Boober were boys while Red and Mookie were girls. I can’t believe I still remember this stuff. Oh! Missed it by that much. You forgot Wembley. Three boys, two girls, one of whom was a tomboy. Weren’t a lot of other female Fraggles. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/17 "2009-01-28T22:26:35Z")
As Charles Schulz said Little girl hitting little boy = Funny Little boy hitting little girl = not funny Little boys getting into trouble = funny Little girls getting into troulbe = not funny ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/18 "2009-01-28T23:10:26Z")
Wot, no love for Lady Penelope from **Thunderbirds**? Or Tin-Tin from the same? Or Marina from **Stingray**? C’mon, Gerry Anderson was all about the laydeez. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/19 "2009-01-28T23:37:23Z")
Well, all I know is that _Puppetry of the Penis_ is shamefully lacking in female roles. For shame, boys. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399/20 "2009-01-28T23:59:35Z")
Well, for Muppets, don’t forget their **Land of Grorch** : King Ploovis, Scred, the Mighty Favog, and Wisss are male, and Queen Peuta and Vazh are female [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-female-puppet-characters/483399.md?page=2)