Gender Bias in an Elementary

School Setting
By Bridget C. Lasorsa
Who is Represented? Who is NOT
Represented?
What
do you
think
she is
saying?
Who is Represented? Who is NOT
Represented?
Who are the Main Characters?
Are Equal Rights being represented?
Do Women always have to cook, clean, etc.?


Can Men cook and clean?
Can Children cook and clean?
Are Equal Rights being represented?
Is it okay for men to quilt?
Are Equal Rights being represented?
Is it okay for women to play sports?
Does it make women not as womanly or
elegant?


Gender Stereotyping in Childrens
Books

Lets think about fairy tales you have seen
Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, etc.

Lets make a list of Male qualities, and Female
Qualities.

Activity:
Male qualities/ characteristics:



Female qualities/ characteristics:

Gender Stereotyping in Childrens
Books
Males (men, boy) are typically viewed as:
physically strong, handsome, brave,
aggressive, etc.
Example: Cool Motorcycle Dude
Females (woman, girl) are typically viewed as:
physically weak, obedient, trusting, beautiful,
etc.
Example: Cinderella
Effects Caused by Gender
Bias/Stereotyping
Children take these stories and characters too
seriously.
Children relate to the characters because of their
gender.
Children are affected by these views as they grow
into adults.
Young girls grow up to be ladies who may believe they
have to look and act a certain way.
Young boys grow up to be men who expect women to
be submissive and helpless.
How Our Students Can Be Aware of
Gender Bias
Question the literature
Expose children to different types of
literature: Strong Female and Male Characters,
Non-typical fairy tales
Disrupt normal behavior (Sam Johnson and
the Blue Ribbon Quilt)
Read non-typical fairy tales (The Paper Bag
Princess)
Questions /Comments

References

Ernst Lisa C. (1983). Sam johnson and the blue ribbon quilt. New York, NY: William Morrow &
Company, Inc.
Dipucchio, K. (2008). Grace for president. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.
Brown, J. (2003). Flat stanley. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
Munsch, R., & Martchenko, M. (2005). The paper bag princess. Buffalo, NY: Annick Press
(U.S.) Ltd.
O'Malley Kevin. (2005). Once upon a cool motorcycle dude. New York, NY: Walker Publishing
Company, Inc.
Serafini, F. (2003). Informing our practice: Modernist, transactional, and critical perspectives on
children's literature and reading instruction. Retrieved from
http://www.readingonline.org/articles/serafini/
Strickland, D.S. (2010). Essential readings on early literacy. Newark, DE: International
Reading Association, Inc.
Vasquez, V. (2010). Getting beyond i like the book: Creating space for critical literacy
In k-6 classrooms. (second ed.). Neward, DE: International Reading Association,
Inc.
Valdivia, N. (2011). Sterotypes in children's books. Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/about_4780326_stereotypes-childrens-books.html
Waber, B. (1972). Ira sleeps over. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.