The Influence of Gender Stereotypes in Children's Books on Children
Date
2005-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tangaza University College/Saint Mary university of Minnesota(Nairobi Campus)
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to investigate what influence gender stereotypes in
children's books have on children, using works of fictions namely Fine Feathers and
Settling the Scores by Ezekiel Alembi, 1995. The study aims at finding out the effects
gender stereotypes in the selected books have on its young readers. The two
assumptions of this study are that children's books have gender stereotypes and that
these stereotypes affect the child readers' worldview through the internalization of the
images that are presented in the books they read. Secondary sources used in the study
consisted of library research on critical works on children's literature. The secondary
sources show that stereotypes exist in children's books and these have negative effects
on the child reader.
The findings revealed that the manner in which genders are represented in children's
literature impacts children's attitudes and perception of gender appropriate behavior in
society. It also revealed that gender stereotypical roles are constraining to both genders.
Just as girls are trapped in passive and whiny roles, boys and men are rarely described
as people demonstrating emotions of sadness and fear, having hobbies/occupation that
are not stereotypically male and in roles where they aren't competing or meeting high
expectations. These findings are significant in understanding the influence of gender
stereotypes on children.
It was therefore recommended that books written for children should be gender neutral
so that children can identify with whomever they wish. It was also recommended that
since gender stereotypes are traditional and are entrenched in the society, and that the
society should change its attitudes on gender roles so as not to make children behave in
gender appropriate ways that are more constraining to them.
Description
Keywords
Traditional Gender Stereotypes, Gender Stereotypes in Educational Materials, 2.4. Gender Stereotypes and Children's Toy Selection, Gender Stereotypes and Childhood Aspiration for Occupation, Television and Gender Stereotypes, Gender Stereotypes and Society