Gender Roles In Children's Literature

re: Gender Roles In Children's Literature

poetryman69 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:44:41 GMT

the heart rises with sun over still and peaceful waters.

Be thou blessed.

re: Gender Roles In Children's Literature

kalin Sloughter — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:02:51 GMT

ramona and eloise both got their first books in 1955. And Trixie Belden was out solving mysteries (in jeans no less) starting in 1948. Harriet is great but she certainly wasn't first

re: Gender Roles In Children's Literature

Bekka — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:18:55 GMT

There's Ferdinand and Leo the Late Bloomer, who spring immediately to mind, but in terms of modern (human!) role models, I have trouble coming up with any.

re: Gender Roles In Children's Literature

mcglory13 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:40:28 GMT

My son got a book called "The Sissy Duckling" as a present. It's for a younger audience, but it has an alternative masculinity. I think Encyclopedia Brown meets your criteria, since he's the thinker and the "muscle" of the operation is his female friend. There's also Ferdinand the Bull. I think a fair number exist, you just have to hunt for them, just as you have to hunt for alternative female models. It may have become more acceptable for women to be "tomboys" but the recent surveys of kid's lit doesn't back up your statement that good role models abound.

re: Gender Roles In Children's Literature

Christine — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:08:30 GMT

I have 2 boys, and sensitive yet strong male role models abound. For many years, guys have been told to get in touch with their feminine side. It shows in modern culture, with rising respect for the softer, sweeter things in life like yoga, vegetarianism, pansexuality, and so much more. Sure the guys may still get called pansies, but as I've witnessed, their female friends totally dig their tuned-in ways!