Have you ever thought about how much children’s books like to stereotype children? I, as a Children’s Literature Minor at Longwood University, think this should be a bigger discussed issue than what it is today. If you look at pretty much any children’s book the girls are dressed in pink and want to be princesses while the boys are in blue and want to be a firefighter or policeman. I think society needs to step back and realize that not all girls like the color pink and not all boys like the color blue. DUH. I mean, is it right for us to just assume things about what children like just because of their gender? NOOOOO. I know I am guilty of this also butttttt we need to wake up and realize that children need to feel like they can like whatever they want to and not be judged by society. Why do we as adults feel the need to children that based on gender, they can’t like the same things? Who made a rule that girls can’t like trucks or dinosaurs? And who says that boys can’t like pink cupcakes or playing with baby dolls? It is important that we allow children to express themselves and books should be one thing that does this. Books should let a child’s mind explore new things without holding them back in any way and things like stereotyping, will do exactly this. Not only do some stereotypes in children’s books make children that don’t necessarily “fit into” these categories feel like an outsider but they can also lead to other children finding a reason to bully. This is beyond upsetting. It breaks my heart that any child would feel the need to “FIT IN” when being unique is soooooo much better. Even https://www.ericdigests.org/1999-3/gender.htm and https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/film/2017/12/2017-was-year-women-s-voices-were-finally-heard-pop-culture agree with me on this. To find books that absolutely gender stereotypes go to https://themidlifemamas.com/childrens-books-that-defy-gender-stereotypes/ I know we are ALL guilty of stereoyping but maybe if we think about it more we would be more careful in what we write and say! Best wishes’ and wake up people.
