Stereotypical Gender Roles

Stereotypical Gender Roles in Children's Literature

The roles of gender have been shaped throughout time. Ever since our parents read us bed time stories we have grown accustomed to the same theme for each and every story; whether it be hidden with the act of a prince saving a helpless princess, or a girl being helplessly lost in the woods, the role of females have typically been one of desperation and despair, while the role of males tend to be heroic. Flipping through the pages of our favorite childhood stories, it seems as though our gender roles have already been defined for us; these stereotypes include female characters being portrayed as feminine, innocent, dependent, timid, and naive, whereas male characters are masculine, adventurous,
In 1995, the sociologist, S.B. Ernst, analyzed the titles of numerous children's books and found that male names were written nearly twice as often as female names (Ernst). In addition, she also concluded that book titles with feminine or gender-neutral names, often revolve around male characters (Ernst). Furthermore, these unbalanced and exaggerated gender role stereotypes can easily be seen in mainstream children's literature. Such examples include: Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, The Berenstain Bears, and Rapunzel. Children's literature frequently portrays female characters as being acted upon rather than being active (Fox). In the classic story, Little Red Riding Hood, a male character, the wood cutter, protects Little Red Riding Hood from the Big-Bad Wolf with his axe, which alone is a symbol of strength and authority. Therefore, male characters
Therefore, the relative lack of female characters in children's literature can ultimately limit the opportunity for females to identify with other females and validate their own place in society (Fox). Moreover, the manner in which gender roles are depicted in children's literature can impact a child's attitude and perception of gender-appropriate behavior in society. These gender-role stereotypes can severely hinder a young male or female's freedom of self expression. Furthermore, added peer pressure can result in males or females to behave in ways that are "gender appropriate," rather than ways that are best suited to his or her personality (Ernst). In the short poem, "Barbie Doll," the author, Marge Piercy, reveals some of the physical stereotypes and expectations that an adolescent female might be exposed to from her