Bob’s Burgershas been a classic from day one. In many ways, the show is ahead of its time while also being a modern example ofequality and feminism. Other animated comedies likeThe SimpsonsorBig Mouthevolve with the times or try to undo the harm they did in the past through recasting or hiring new writers. YetBob’s Burgersdoesn’t run into these issues. The creators and writers made cognizant decisions when making their characters and the arcs they’d have in the show. Bob and Linda, for example, are pretty stable characters whereas their children sometimes give them a push to grow.
While Tina and Louise push the social boundaries for what it means to be a girl, it’sGene Belcherwho is the most confident in himself and how he sees people with uteruses. Like his father, he’s creative. He likes creating music and even starts a girl group, called Girl Group, with three girls from school. But it’s his love and admiration for his mom and sisters that give him a solid foundation as a feminist icon.
Born to Be a Mother
TV shows will often depict unhealthy mother-son relationships. Whether it’s a mother being overprotective and borderline obsessive with her son’s love life, or a mother who doesn’t think twice about her son’s happiness, toxic mother-son relationships tend to outweigh the healthy mother-son relationships on TV.Simple Mosteven ranked the best and worst on screen mothers.
However, Linda Belcher (John Roberts) is a beloved TV mother. Her confidence is a common thread with her three children. Gene’s confidence shows up in everything he does, much like his mother. When the fourth graders are in charge of a bag of flour to test if they’ll be good parents, Gene declares he was born to be a mother (Season 3, Episode 15). His declaration is just one reason he is an icon: he knows he is full of love and confidence, something many mothers have the capacity to show and build up in their children.
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Gene admires his mother for her unrelenting confidence and her zest for life. His adoration of his mother is translated in his relationships with his sisters and friends at school. Though his age could be a factor, Gene is not afraid to confess his love for his mother. He also isn’t embarrassed to be seen with her. They even have a special mother-son weekly adventure where they go to a local bakery and try their free samples.
“Tell that to my vagina!”
After Bob and Linda fire the kids from the restaurant, they find a job on a weed farm, disguised as a blueberry farm. The kids tell their parents they’ve found jobs, where Gene declares they’re working girls and when Bob denies that Gene is a girl to a confused Mickey (played by Bill Hader), a bank robber, Gene yells, “Tell that to my vagina!” (Season 3, Episode 3).
This declaration is another reason that Gene is an icon. He isn’t confined to others definitions of his gender identity. Though Gene hasn’t formally come out as gender-fluid, nor does he need to, he declares many times that he is both physically and emotionally pro-femme. Regarding how Gene feels towards other women and gender-nonconforming people, like Marshmallow, he shows solidarity through loving unconditionally. He even prefers the company of women, as he revealed when he saw Zeke and Jimmy Jr. wrestling on the beach (Season 2, Episode 1).
Girl Group
Psychology Todaylists five ways parents can encourage their children to have self-confidence. For instance, parents can engage with their children’s interests. In addition to children feeling confident in themselves, parents who engage with their children’s interests build a stronger relationship with them. Sometimes, these interests can be due to watching their parents, or it can be discovered along with peers.
Related:Bob’s Burgers: What the Intro Tells Us About the Show
InBob’s Burgers, Linda is the ultimate mom. She’s ready to have fun, pull her family out of the fire, and loves singing. In many ways, her children are inspired by her zeal for life, but Gene is the one who mimics his mother the most. He isn’t afraid to sing or make music, even if it’s filled with fart noises. When the kids decide to run a casino in their basement, Gene starts a singing group with three of his classmates called Girl Group.
After one performance, the group disbands, and he takes over as the girl group wearing a magenta sequined dress and long black wig. Gene also helps his sisters write musicals, like Tina’s Thanksgiving themed musicalThe Quirky Turkey, butthey all start a band together. InThe Bob’s Burgers Movie, Gene, his sisters, and the Fischoeder brothers perform at Wonder Wharf’s band shell.
Glass Ceiling, Beware!
Plenty of cis-men in Hollywood are pro-femme and are given praise for it. Despite the hatred pro-femme cis-men receive from “alpha males,” the feminist movement actually needs everyone. From trans-inclusivity to Indigenous and Black inclusiveness, feminism makes room for anyone seeking equity and equality, including cis-men.
According toMic, men who support feminism are those who change how they speak about and treat women holistically. This shift could change the laws that are introduced and enacted across the United States. Women and gender-fluid people could exist more safely than worrying about whether their bodies will be politicized or harmed. While Gene Belcher may be a pre-teen, his admiration for women are more than self-declarations and making music with his sisters. He is a beacon of hope for all those who want to support women and gender-fluid people.
