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Books for Kids Full of Gender Biases, Report Shows
Filed under: In The News, Books for Parents, Research Reveals: Big Kids
Books for kids show gender bias. Credit: Getty
A new study shows a sizable gender bias when it comes to the last century of children's literature, The New York Times reports, with male heroes (think Curious George, Winnie the Poo and Babar) far outnumbering female characters.
Published in April's Gender and Society journal, the study that looked at almost 6,000 children's books published between 1900 and 2000, found 57 percent featured a main male character, while just 31 percent focused on a female. The other 12 percent are assumed gender-neutral, according to the newspaper.
When it came to central animal characters, 23 percent were male, compared to 7.5 percent female, and, The Times notes, Mother Duck in "Make Way for Ducklings" was the only female animal character to star in a Caldecott-winning book.
If that doesn't have feminists shouting "The sky is falling!", the study also finds that while one-third of each year's kid's books include a main female adult woman or animal character, 100 percent of books feature a male adult or animal.
Madeline, Beezus and the old woman in the shoe might want to caucus.
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
5-05-2011 @ 5:49PM
Firehaven said...All this worry about main characters? I think maybe we should be worrying about whether or not our children can even read before we concern ourselves with the subject of the book. Foolishness.
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5-05-2011 @ 6:26PM
Lcente7 said...Diplomatic, do not be so ignorant believing that illegal alliens only clean houses, yards, under tables or do jobs that we do not want to do. For your information many of them work in private companys and even in our gov. offices, the problem is that you don't know how or can't tell the difference between a legal or illegal allien. Do you?. So stop feeling so sorry for them because this is the way it works in our system, if is illegal it means it is against the law and it is against the law it belongs either in jail or out of our communuties, period.
About the children books that we buy for our children, since I am the one who is going to pay for the them I buy what I believe is suitable for my children or grandchildren. The education of my children or grandchildren is my responsibility and I will buy books that suits my belief and moral values. If some individuals out there would like some sort of variation of the books we have in our libraries or bookstores, then start writing new ones or talk to someone who can write and start writing children books that are suitable to their belief and moral values. But please do not try to impose your ideas to others because then you will fall in the same thing that you are criticizing
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5-05-2011 @ 6:32PM
amy said...I own a children's shop and we sell books, toys, clothing ect. and all I hear is how there is so much more girls clothing than for boys, so now I need to worry about too many boy themed books? Please help us...parents, pay no attention to this non-sense! My shop is set up in little vinnettes of kitchen toys (the girls go right to it...rarely boys) doll area, fairy and ballet and then "boy toys" army men, cars, kites, and yes I sell toy guns...by the dozens....my best seller for boys toys...and rarely do the girls go over and pick them up. I am so politically incorrect!!! Been doing this for over 10 years, and I've never seen a boy put on a ballet tu-tu...once in a while i see one pick up a wand and so "Ohhhhh pretty" but that is the extent! Boys will be boys as they say...and yes, there are exceptions, but this crap makes me nuts!
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5-05-2011 @ 6:33PM
red said...This is an opportunity for new writers to write something for children in this day and age. Don't take the old books off the shelves. There are much important issues to handle and maybe they should be working on kids' self esteem in school rather than worrying about fictional heros.
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5-05-2011 @ 6:59PM
Mister Cashman said...If someone does not like the gender gap in childrens books they should write one of their own and shut the hell up!!!
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5-05-2011 @ 7:12PM
Tara said...I'm surprised so many people think this study is so ridiculous. The society and culture our children are exposed to is reflective of the people they will develop into. If girls aren't exposed to female characters that are strong, adventurous, and intelligent they will be less likely to see themselves in that way. If boys aren't exposed to female characters that are strong, adventurous, and intelligent they will be less likely to see women in that way. Books are just one aspect of our culture, but all of society plays a part in the development of our children and all parts are important.
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5-06-2011 @ 2:05PM
Diehradman said...My boys are in middle school and I can tell you that books written to appeal to boys in the 12 and up age group are almost nonexistent. But... there are so many girly twilight-type books that the bookstores invented a new category : Teenage Paranormal Romance !!! No boy wants to read those. Where's our "Normal Teenage Spy Action Thriller" category?
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5-08-2011 @ 1:01AM
mom said...I guess they can read Nancy Drew.