Troubling: What’s Missing In The World Of Cereal Mascots?
Attention Cereal City, we have a problem.
Have you ever taken a stroll down the breakfast aisle at your local grocery store and realized you are suddenly immersed in a sea of cartoon masculinity? No?! Take a second look. OK, now take a third look. They might as well put up a sign at the cereal aisle that says: "No Girls Allowed!" Seriously, try to name one female cereal mascot. This is not grrrrrrrreat.
Tony the Tiger, Sugar Bear, Toucan Sam and the other cereal mascot elite have been the boys on the boxes for decades. I suppose you could make an argument that some of them, although male, have a discernible amount of feminine qualities about them. Are we 100% sure about Trix the Rabbit? There are definitely some question marks there. Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids (but apparently only for boys).
A couple months ago for National Cereal Day, we told you about Katy the Kangaroo. She was a mascot for Kellogg's Frosted Sugar Flakes opposite Tony the Tiger and a few other forgotten characters in the 1950s. Other than occasional female athletes on a box of Wheaties, it seems the cereal industry flaked out on their flakes when it comes to the ladies. Don't 'follow your nose,' because this just plain stinks.
I'm not the first one to bring the apparent sexism in the cereal world to attention. Five years ago, CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory weighed in on this issue. And five years later? Nothing! We're still over here crying over spilled milk.
Battle Creek is the 'cereal capital of the world' and something needs to be done. We need a campaign. We need strong women to unite. It is the 21st Century and its time to break through the barriers. It's time for movement! (Have another bowl of fiber, it'll help).
Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day. Its even more of a reason to treat women a little better, cereal makers. Stop being soggy.
We'd be remiss if we didn't give Honey Bunches of Oats a pass on this one. While the cereal does not employ a mascot, the brand is well represented by Battle Creek native Diana Hunter, who recently retired. Diana, who was known seemingly around the world as the Honey Bunches of Oats Lady, spent 40 years on the line at Post.