In a previously unreported statement, Rutgers Professor of Iranian Studies Golbarg Bashi believes that the character “Sandy Cheeks” on Spongebob is sexist.

Dr. Bashi, who was born in Iran, raised in Sweden, and educated in Britain and the United States, received her Ph.D from Columbia University.

According to Bashi’s Twitter profile, she considers herself a “feminist professor” and “cultural critic.” One part of American culture that Dr. Bashi has taken issue with: the squirrel character in Spongebob Squarepants.

The squirrel in Spongebob is from Texas who needs a suit to survive underwater with the other characters in the show. The problem, however, is that the squirrel’s name is “Sandy Cheeks.”

According to Bashi, “Sandy Cheeks” is actually a “sexist” name that shows “misogyny” on the show:



To back up her claim, Dr. Bashi linked to a search she apparently did on Pinterest, which shows women on the beach.

Dr. Bashi is apparently unaware that there are other female characters on Spongebob, including Ms. Puff, the voice of Plankton’s robot/computer, and Pearl, Mr. Krabs’s daughter.

iOTWreport’s Aurelius was the first to report Dr. Bashi’s statements.