Zuma is also a fan favorite, and as a result, questions about the puppy’s gender have sparked curiosity among parents and young viewers alike. With the show primarily focusing on teamwork, problem-solving, and adventure, Zuma's gender identity isn't always as clear-cut as some might assume. For many, Zuma’s character is simply a fun and adventurous pup, and their gender doesn't matter. Still, viewers are asking if Zuma is a girl or a boy. Now it's time to clarify and uncover a more significant issue in children's programming.

PAW Patrol's Zuma Is A Boy

His Gender Identity Doesn't Matter Too Much, Though

Zuma is a male chocolate Labrador retriever. In the context of PAW Patrol, Zuma is a water/aquatic rescue puppy, who rescues animals and humans alike and is known for operating an orange hovercraft emergency vehicle. Viewer confusion about Zuma's gender likely stems from the fact that, while many characters in PAW Patrol are easily identified by their gendered traits, Zuma doesn't always conform to the typical "boy" or "girl" representation.

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Some questions about Zuma's gender may come from his voice, which is higher pitched than the other male characters. However, it doesn’t sound like Zuma is a girl, just by listening to him, and voice, of course, doesn’t determine gender identity.

Zuma is also dressed in a "gender-neutral" color, orange, to match his hovercraft. Most of the time, orange isn’t associated with a certain gender, while pink and blue are often associated with female and male, respectively. Additionally, in Western cultures, names that end with an "A," like Zuma, are often reserved for females. But Zuma’s gender doesn’t matter too much, as he’s still a heroic character and a valued member of PAW Patrol.

PAW Patrol's Core Team Is Part Of A Frustrating Trend In Kids' Shows

Females Are Still Underrepresented In Children's Media

Zuma is male, meaning PAW Patrol only features one female member of the original team — Skye, the air rescue Cockapoo. This lack of gender diversity indicates a bigger issue in children’s shows, which is that there will often be only one or maybe two female characters in the main cast.

Take a look at popular kids’ shows like SpongeBob SquarePants. Sandy Cheeks, the squirrel, is the only female main character in the cast. Sure, Mrs. Puff and Karen are females in the regular SpongeBob cast, but they aren’t in the main lineup of Bikini Bottom characters. Now, don’t get me wrong — I love SpongeBob, and my point isn’t to bash the late Stephen Hillenburg’s iconic creation. I also understand that the show premiered in 1999, when gender wasn’t at the forefront of children’s television.

But now, many shows like Disney's The Owl House and even other Nickelodeon shows like The Legend of Korra offer multiple strong female characters and a deeper look at gender identity. Steven Universe explores gender in a more developed way than was ever allowed on television, especially shows for kids. Three women, the Crystal Gems, raise the male protagonist, Steven, who has a non-binary alter ego named Stevonnie. Since more shows for kids offer diverse gender representation, maybe it’s time for PAW Patrol to follow suit, especially with a new PAW Patrol movie on the way.

PAW Patrol

Created by

Keith Chapman

First Film

PAW Patrol: The Movie

First TV Show

PAW Patrol

Cast

Ron Pardo, Kallan Holley, Justin Paul Kelly, Devan Cohen, Solomon Brown, Samuel Faraci, Tyler Perry, Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson, Lil Rel Howery, Kristen Bell

See at Target See at Amazon

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