Smurfette: Not a role model

[yendi]

(Ganked from Terracinque)

Ever wonder what, exactly, Smurf creator Peyo intended Smurfette to represent? Here's his translator, as noted at The Straight Dope:

Peyo began by saying that she was "very feminine." They asked him to be more specific, so he went on to say: "She is pretty, blonde, she has all the characteristics of women…" Knowing the feminist spirit in the U.S.A., I diplomatically translated this as "all the qualities." I was banking on the fact that Peyo did not understand what I was saying (in English) and the others did not understand what he was trying to say. So naturally they asked him to expand. So he kept on going with: "She seduces, she uses trickery rather than force to get results. She is incapable of telling a joke without blowing the punch line. She is a blabbermouth but only makes superficial comments. She is constantly creating enormous problems for the Smurfs but always manages to blame it on someone else." I did my best to minimize the sexist nature of this description, but one of the participants at the meeting asked: "Would she at least be able, when the Smurfs are in danger, to take a decision that can save them?" When I translated this to Peyo, he looked astounded. "Come on now, do they expect me to make her a (female) gym teacher?" I obviously did not translate this remark. [Translation by Valteron]

Yeah, I think Peyo might have had a few issues.

Comments

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that Dave Sims worked on the Smurfs.

[ewin.livejournal.com]

The feminist in me is most certainly NOT giggling uncontrollably, but the rest of me is...

[amokk]

Why do I think that "(female) gym teacher" was actually "lesbian gym teacher" or is that, like, redundant? ;)

[rubian77.livejournal.com]

Is it just me, or does anyone else recall an episode where Smurfette was created by Gargamel and had dark hair, and when the Smurfs "turned her good" she became blonde?

Issues? Nah, he had subscriptions.

[rowancat.livejournal.com]

Donnie Darko discussed Smurfette at length with some friends, but mostly about her not being anatomically correct...

Oh now you've done it.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

"First of all, Papa Smurf didn't invent Smurfette, Gargamel did! She was sent as Gargamel's evil spy, with the intention of...of destroying the Smurf village, but the overwhelming goodness of the Smurf way of life transformed her! And Smurfs are asexual, they don't even have...reproductive organs under those little, white, pants. It's just so illogical, you know, about being a Smurf!"

"Damn it, Donnie, why'd you have to get so smart on us?"

(I can't quote the leadup to that, which is how Papa Smurf made her to be, um, sexually available, so clearly Papa Smurf was a pimp. And I'll stop now.)

Re: Oh now you've done it.

[rowancat.livejournal.com]

Heh ;) I bought both versions of DD. The directors cut has so many additions,
deletions and changes in visuals as well as soundtrack and sound that it's basically an entirely new film. I like both.
I could have done without the useless 2nd disc though. Better to have just
put the theatrical release in that slot instead of the usual double dipping
of dvds.

[concordantnexus.livejournal.com]

From what I recall from the Schtroumpfs TV show and bandes dessines, Smurfette (Schtroumpfette) was akin to a Pandora - always causing trouble for the Smurfs - indeed was it not Gargamel that made her?