Gender Issues in Children's Literature: Then and Now

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Gender Issues in Children's Literature: Then and Now

Charlotte's Web, Anne of Green Gables, Treasure Island, Cinderella and Grimm's Brothers fairy tales, have all been treasures of society's basic children's literature. They covered their share of beauties, villains, conflicts and happy-endings that many of us remember till this day. But were we as society's children aware of the impact these stories made on our views of men and women? Although parents, teachers and other socializing agents communicate gender roles to children at an early age, the issue of how children's literature influences gender roles, stereotyping and sometimes sexism has been a topic on many educators, researchers and psychologists' agendas since as early as the 1920's. But how can prove that this children's literature actually influences gender stereotyping and what are some techniques educators and researchers are developing to make children's literature more "gender friendly"?

The journey for equal opportunity and respect for both women and men has raised consciousness that "liberation from stereotypic and destructive roles" in children's literature is vital (Rudman, 179). Although factors such as television, radio, movies and comics have an impact on a child's eye view of the world, Researcher and educator, Masha Rudman agrees that "children's books continue to produce traditionally stereotyped programs, situations and characters (Rudman, 177)." But she continues to assess the fact that it also "reflects the growing awareness of the change in gender role definitions and behaviors (Rudman, 177)." While earlier studies (1930-1950) on gender stereotypes concentrated on battling personal characteristics of men and women such as nurturance (wom...

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...edia affect the ways in which children understand literature.

Romatowski, Jane; Trepanier-Street, Mary. "The Influence of Children's Literature on Gender Roles Perceptions: A Reexamination." Early Childhood Education Journal, Vol. 26, No. 3, 1999

This article provides an experiment dealing with gender schema theory and how it relates to gender bias amongst children. The study showed how selected children's literature can positively influence gender attitudes.

Rudman, Masha. Children's Literature - An Issue's Approach: Third Edition. New York: Longman Publishers, 1995

This book addresses various issues of children's literature. It is also designed for the study and selection of children's books. Some if the focuses include how issues are expressed in society in children's literature and how children's books can be used as therapy to children.

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