Little Willow ([info]slayground) wrote,
@ 2007-12-31 16:17:00
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Current mood: determined
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Entry tags:articles, books

Just Say No to Gender Bias
On a regular basis, I try to talk kids out of saying, "Oh, that's a GIRL book," or, "Ewww! Idon'twannareadaBOYSTORY!"

Guess what? I often succeed. How? First, I tell the hopeful reader about the story, why I like it, and why I think he or she will like it too. I make book recommendations based on the reader's personality, literacy, and interests, not on the gender of the reader, the writer, or the protagonist.

You'll find that most books - gasp! - have both female and male characters. Many books have a definite leading character, but that character most likely interacts with other characters. Plenty of books for kids have scenes at home and school, with parents, siblings, neighbors, classmates, and teachers. Between two book covers, you'll discover a new population of people and/or critters.

Now, this may or may not surprise you, but adults also say, "That looks like a girl book!" and "That looks like a boy book!" I told a parent about a great book about gymnasts, only to hear, "Ah, but gymnastics is for girls, and I have a son." Pardon me, but boys are gymnasts too. They are also incredible dancers.

Both genders can play any sport.

Boys and girls can play on the same team.

As you can tell, I don't like double standards, and I don't like gender bias.

I encourage you to recognize talent and achievement wherever they may be, and not base things upon gender. Please encourage your friends, siblings, children, and students to do the same.

Talent knows no gender lines and has no gender bias.

You can do anything you set your mind to if you work hard enough.

Good books can and should be read by both genders and by all ages.

Discerning readers want to read (and will appreciate) a good book, period.

Related Booklists: Hey There, Sports Fan and I am a Dancer

Related Articles: Mining the Field and Challenging Readers


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[info]begliocchi
2008-01-01 01:04 am UTC (link)
You know, I've never thought of it in terms of "girl books" or "boy books". It's always "What do you like to read...". Heck, I had a little boy wanting Hannah Montana books and was so embarassed to ask, and I felt so bad for him that I got one of my guy co-workers to go out and tell him how cool the series is - and this co-worker is a 30 year old, 6 foot 10 Dutchman with the voice of God. *hee* So long as they're reading, it's all good. =)

Edited at 2008-01-01 01:04 am UTC

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[info]slayground
2008-01-01 01:21 am UTC (link)
That's fantastic!

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[info]xandersgirl18
2008-01-01 01:08 am UTC (link)
I never really thought in terms of boy books or girl books either. I just read anything that sounds appealing.

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[info]slayground
2008-01-01 01:21 am UTC (link)
Good!!

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[info]funkmasterbink
2008-01-01 05:34 am UTC (link)
You know what makes me angry...The Dangerous Book for Boys.

They have a girls one now too...but grrr!!!!

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[info]slayground
2008-01-01 05:55 am UTC (link)
Long time no speak! Hope you are doing well.

Some people took issue with those titles because the boys got to be "dangerous" while the girls were "daring." Some folks were displeased because they weren't the same. Others were upset because they sounded, well, dangerous.

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[info]idreamofpeace
2008-01-01 08:40 am UTC (link)
It's only been in the past five years of my dad's life that he's started reading books written by women and I still have to have conversations with him like "yes, dad, Amy Tan is a woman and wrote Joy Luck Club which is about generations of daughters and mothers, but I really think you'd like this book of hers because..."

*sigh*

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[info]slayground
2008-01-01 08:46 am UTC (link)
I'm glad that he's _finally_ reading them. Keep bugging him! :)

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[info]sarahsbooks
2008-01-01 03:07 pm UTC (link)
Darn right.

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[info]slayground
2008-01-01 08:40 pm UTC (link)
Darn tootin'.

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[info]saralholmes
2008-01-01 04:16 pm UTC (link)
It's only lately that I realized that I read a lot of "boy" books growing up. Is it just me, or has gender bias increased with book marketing? It didn't seem nearly so divided when I was a young reader.

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[info]slayground
2008-01-01 09:09 pm UTC (link)
I agree that marketing is a factor, and that the division was not as apparent twenty or more years ago.

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[info]hanyo_alchemist
2008-01-06 10:54 pm UTC (link)
Oh, I hate the whole gender bias thing in reading. I love all sorts of books, whether they were intended for girls, boys, children or adults. If I like it, I read it. Heck, I had an old book called Little Duckling sandwiched between a forgein artbook and a manga called Death Note in my temporary bookshelf, and I read through all three.

Not only that, but my original characters are not going to be stuck in gender roles. In fact, one of the males is a soft-spoken, impulsive, almost maternal optimist, and the lead female is tough and practical.

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[info]slayground
2008-01-06 11:00 pm UTC (link)
Got to love an eclectic bookshelf!

One of my favorite narrators has no gender: Death, in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Good luck with your stories!

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