Are cartoons an educational tool to foster gendered moral reasoning?

In the Introduction section, we highlight the educational value of cartoons as a resource for developing the skills outlined in the educational curriculum and coeducational programs of the context in which the study was conducted. In the present study, we selected two sequences or excerpts from cartoon shows that contain sexism or social role stereotypes to analyze their content (values and emotions) and determine how elementary students interpret them through critical thinking and moral reasoning. In general, elementary students aged 8 to 12 were able to identify and understand the moral aspects of the fictional content, including right and wrong acts or behavior, intentions and consequences, as well as values and countervalues (such as deceit and lies) and emotions (such as anger and shame). The research methodology applied may constitute a valid didactic proposal for developing digital competence, coeducation, moral reasoning and critical thinking.