Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My older son has noticed that Thomas the Engine products and videos are overwhelmingly a male world.  So much so that my grandson doesn't want any of the several token girl engines.  That got me thinking about my kids' era, which thankfully included Mr Roger's Neighborhood, with some strong girl characters, but, since it was often voiced by Fred Rogers, was tilted toward the male Daniel Tiger, King Friday and the mailman.  But remembering Sesame Street disturbed me more.  Since the puppeteers were male, strong female characters consisted of Miss Piggy.  Big Bird, Oscar, Bert, Ernie, Snuffaluffagus, Animal, Kermit and the rest were male voices.  Yes, some of the live people were female, but were they strong and inspiring?  I'd have to say no.  Miss Piggy is desperate to be romantic with Kermit, and bossy and vain and silly.  My two daughters could not have found any encouragement from the show, and there was no Dora the Explorer then.  Later, my last child saw a bit of Where in the World is Carmen Santiago, but in the meantime she was watching the Little Mermaid or Robin Hood.  Oh, dear, what will my 10 year old granddaughter be absorbing?  And the two little grandsons?  It's as if they are reassured that the world is shaped and meant for their maleness, and, all right, it is, but let's change it for the sake of all our children and their future happiness and coexistence.