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Raju SA, Sanders SR, Bolton-Raju KS, Bowker-Howell FJ, Hall LR, Newton M, Neill GS, Holland WJ, Howford KL, Bolton EV, Arora P, Raju AS, Shah PJ, Azmy IAF, Sanders DS. A Cohort Study of the Diversity in Animated Films From 1937 to 2021: In a World Less Enchanted Can We Be More Encanto? Cureus 2023; 15:e43548. [PMID: 37719586 PMCID: PMC10502396 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to gender stereotypes in the media can develop and reinforce these attitudes in children. Individuals who are overweight, have health conditions, or are from a minority ethnic group (IMEG) are both underrepresented and poorly portrayed in the media. Role models can raise the aspirations of young children both professionally and in taking ownership of their health. We aimed to assess how the portrayal and diversity of characters in Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks animated films have changed over time. Method A cohort study of all main characters in Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks feature-length, theatrical, animated films from 1937 to 2021 was conducted. The portrayal of characters (R-score divided into negative, neutral, and positive -1, 0, and 1, respectively) was scored. The proportion of individuals with certain protected characteristics (sex, increased body mass index, physical or mental health conditions, being from an IMEG or part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, and queer community) was also recorded. Results In total, 116 films and 1,275 characters were included. From the 1930s to 2020s, the proportion of women in films increased (16.7% to 47.3%, p=0.008) and their representation was more positive (mean R-score = -0.10 (SD:0.692) versus 0.49 (SD:0.837), p<0.001, respectively). The portrayal of overweight individuals has improved to a neutral position (mean R-score: -0.67 to 0.0). Both physical and mental illnesses are better portrayed (mean R-score: -0.18 to 0.34, p=0.004 and 0.5 to 1.0, p= 0.019, respectively). IMEGs introduced in 1953 now play more than just negative roles (mean R-score = -1 to 0.76, p=0.008). There is only one explicitly stated homosexual character. The most diverse film is Encanto. Conclusion This is the first study to comprehensively assess the diversity of animated film characters. We have identified an improvement in diversity and the way diverse individuals are portrayed which we hope continues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suneil A Raju
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
- Academic Unit of Gastroenterology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Samira R Sanders
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Kathryn S Bolton-Raju
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Freya J Bowker-Howell
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Lara R Hall
- Department of History, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Millie Newton
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Gary S Neill
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - William J Holland
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Katie L Howford
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Emma V Bolton
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Pranav Arora
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Aneil S Raju
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
| | - Premal J Shah
- Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, GBR
| | - Iman Ahmed F Azmy
- Department of Breast Surgery, Chesterfield Royal Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Chesterfield, GBR
| | - David S Sanders
- Academic Unit of Gastroenterology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Sheffield, GBR
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Diseases, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, GBR
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Balasubramanian SP, Azmy IAF, Higham SE, Wilson AG, Cross SS, Cox A, Brown NJ, Reed MW. Interleukin gene polymorphisms and breast cancer: a case control study and systematic literature review. BMC Cancer 2006; 6:188. [PMID: 16842617 PMCID: PMC1553474 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-6-188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2006] [Accepted: 07/14/2006] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukins and cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of many solid cancers. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in cytokine genes are thought to influence the expression or function of these proteins and many have been evaluated for their role in inflammatory disease and cancer predisposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate any role of specific SNPs in the interleukin genes IL1A, IL1B, IL1RN, IL4R, IL6 and IL10 in predisposition to breast cancer susceptibility and severity. METHODS Candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in key cytokine genes were genotyped in breast cancer patients and in appropriate healthy volunteers who were similar in age, race and sex. Genotyping was performed using a high throughput allelic discrimination method. Data on clinico-pathological details and survival were collected. A systematic review of Medline English literature was done to retrieve previous studies of these polymorphisms in breast cancer. RESULTS None of the polymorphisms studied showed any overall predisposition to breast cancer susceptibility, severity or to time to death or occurrence of distant metastases. The results of the systematic review are summarised. CONCLUSION Polymorphisms within key interleukin genes (IL1A, IL1B, IL1RN, IL4R, IL6 and IL10 do not appear to play a significant overall role in breast cancer susceptibility or severity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - IAF Azmy
- Academic Surgical Oncology Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - SE Higham
- Academic Surgical Oncology Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - AG Wilson
- Academic Rheumatology Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - SS Cross
- Academic Unit of Pathology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - A Cox
- Institute of Cancer Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - NJ Brown
- Academic Surgical Oncology Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - MW Reed
- Academic Surgical Oncology Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Azmy IAF, Hurlstone DP, Butt TF, Nasseri F, Bullimore DW, Sanders DS. Does surgical removal of mucosal associated lymphoid tissue protect against adult coeliac disease? A case controlled study. Dig Liver Dis 2004; 36:187-90. [PMID: 15046187 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2003.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Surgical resection of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue has been suggested as a protective mechanism against the development of inflammatory bowel disease. Mucosal T-cell activity plays a pivotal role in coeliac disease pathogenesis. We aimed to determine if the development of adult coeliac disease is influenced by appendectomy or tonsillectomy. METHODOLOGY Three hundred patients over 16 years of age with biopsy proven coeliac disease were identified from two hospital databases in South Yorkshire. From these databases, appendectomy and tonsillectomy status was determined and compared with 1033 coeliac disease antibody-negative controls (volunteers recruited from general practice). Logistic regression was performed to correct for the age differences between the two groups; cross-table analysis was performed. RESULTS Thirteen percent of coeliac disease patients and 12.2% of controls had previous appendectomy (P = 0.71; odds ratio 1.08; 95% confidence interval 0.72-1.62). 20.7% of coeliac disease patients and 24.5% of the controls had previous tonsillectomy (P = 0.17; odds ratio 0.80; 95% confidence interval 0.59-1.10). CONCLUSIONS No significance was demonstrated in either the appendectomy or tonsillectomy group. Surgical removal of mucosal associated lymphoid tissue does not appear to prevent the development of adult onset coeliac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A F Azmy
- Medical & Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
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