I love the “Little Rascals.” They were a beloved staple of my childhood, which managed just to span the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. It’s a Gen X thing.
As I kid, I loved every episode I saw, including the one about the boys forming the “He-Man-Woman-Haters-Club.” Bwahahahahaha! So ridiculous and so cute. Especially because the charismatic kid exhorting his friends towards misogyny. Really, though, the impetus for this association of fellas who are over the girls tricks, was revenge.
The ringleader was Spanky (George McFarland). McFarland, by the way, is hugely underrated due to his age. People just can’t take kids seriously and it ain’t fair. Anyhow, by the time he reached grade school, George was the most adept comedic actor in the biz.
I’ll say no more about this episode and am including a video that’s just a small scene in the episode, aptly titled “The He-Man Woman Haters Club.” To this day, this Little Rascal’s episode makes me laugh and laugh. Not the mad kind of laughter, when I’m rocking back and forth, but the happy kind of laughter that comes when a show is funny and brings back happy childhood memories. The old double-whammy.
This brings me to a problem, or question or conundrum I have. If we get too crazy about gender issues, does that mean this show is no longer politically correct? Does it mean the name of the show should be changed to reflect the trans and gender fluid experience?
I’m not joking. I’m truly wondering what the woke (is that a true adjective or a pejorative? I’m not sure if people like this term) or left (left of what?) think about this little piece of entertainment history.
Can we still laugh about gender, and can we sometimes worry less about it? Because I believe Spanky should be allowed to be cross at women and should not be called a cis-male because everyone knows this kid is all guy.
I’d love feedback, because society is complicated–maybe over-complicated–right now. And I’d love to find out who else adores the “Little Rascals.”
–Sarah Torribio
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