Do Sesame Street characters have genders?

Sesame Street characters do have genders. The main characters on the show, including Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo, are all male puppets. This has been the case since the show’s inception in 1969.

Growing up watching Sesame Street, I always recognized that the characters were predominantly male. Kermit the Frog, with his iconic green skin and charming personality, served as the host and narrator of many segments. Big Bird, the lovable giant yellow bird, was always referred to as a male character. Bert and Ernie, the inseparable roommates, were also portrayed as male characters. Cookie Monster, with his insatiable appetite for cookies, and Grover, the fuzzy blue monster, were also presented as male.

Even Oscar the Grouch, the trash-loving, grumpy character who lived in a trash can, was always referred to as male. And of course, Elmo, the energetic and curious red monster, is also male.

It’s worth noting that while these main characters are male, Sesame Street has also introduced female characters over the years. Characters like Prairie Dawn, Zoe, Rosita, Abby Cadabby, and others have become beloved members of the Sesame Street cast. However, the majority of the main characters, the ones we often think of first when we think of Sesame Street, have always been male.

It’s interesting to consider why the creators of Sesame Street chose to predominantly feature male characters. Perhaps it was a reflection of the time when the show was created, as gender norms were more rigidly defined. Or maybe it was simply a matter of the personalities and dynamics that the creators wanted to portray on the show.