Essay | 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...
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