We rented some old school Mr. Dressup shows on DVD from the library this week. I hadn’t really watched it at all but was listening to the one Avery was watching as I made dinner tonight and discovered something that really delighted me. Mr. Dressup was teaching girls that they don’t need men to take care of them (rescue them) before it was trendy to do so.

I observed this in a scene where Mr. Dressup and Casey (the muppet of ambiguous gender) are performing a puppet show. Casey is performing the part of the girl (aka mini ragmop puppet) and Mr. Dressup is two different characters, both apparently male, with superhero complexes (made out of wooden spoons and other household paraphernalia as only Mr. Dressup can do)….

Casey the muppet of ambiguous gender: Oh, what a lovely day for a walk! Lala la la la!

Mr. Dressup as a wooden spoon with a hero complex: Don’t worry! I’ll save you.

C: Save me from what?

MD: Haven’t you heard of the Thing?

C: The thing? What thing?

MD: The Thing that makes a terrible roaring sound.

C: I haven’t seen any thing.

MD: Well you will if you continue down that road.

C: Well, I don’t think I’m afraid of something that makes a roaring sound. (continues walking)

*roaring*

MD (as a new male spoon-character): I’ll save you!

C: What makes you think I need saving?

MD: Well, for one thing, you’re a girl. And girls always need saving in stories.

C: Well I don’t need any saving. I’m not afraid of a roaring sound.

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See what I mean? Mr. Dressup was encouraging girls to be self-sufficient and empowered long before kids shows had really jumped on that bandwagon. Way to be ahead of your time Mr. Dressup! Come to think of it, maybe Casey’s uncertain gender was Mr. D’s way of giving a nod to the transgender community? You gotta give the guy credit for costarring with a puppet and managing to refrain from using gender specific pronouns for years. Although Wikipedia says Casey is a boy, I really feel like I never heard Mr. Dressup refer to Casey as “him” or “he” in all the years I watched the show. Did you?