Children’s Book Analysis Charlotte Steiner’s Tomboy’s Doll is a great example of how gender roles are viewed. With amazing illustrations throughout the books entirety there is a clear gender disconnect. Marie Louise, or Tommy as she would prefer to go by in the book is a little girl that would much rather wear jeans and a t-shirt verses a flowing dress. Along with her clothing Tommy is showcased with short black hair while the other little girls have long blond hair with bows. The illustrations have portrayed this extremely well. Tommy’s mom give her the gift of a doll named Amanda with a vast amount of doll clothing in hopes that she would begin to play with it like the other little girls her age. However, instead of dressing the doll in
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Instead of playing tea time Amanda she uses it as a scarecrow in the tree outside her window, in hopes to get more cherries. Tommy and her friend Bill pretended to teach Amanda how to swim in the pond behind Bill’s house. Tommy’s thought processes as that of “if dressing her up is a way of playing with her, then I will dress her in a bathing suit and I will teach her to swim.” Later, Tommy and Bill wanted to play cops and robbers and Amanda was going to be the victim. However, Tommy strolled too far from her friend and found herself lost. During this time, she consoled Amanda telling her that everything was going to be just fine. While talking with Amanda, Tommy kept walking until finally she heard a voice. After finding her way home she got ready for bed and noticed that Amanda was sitting on a nearby chair with messy hair. Tommy took the time to clean up her new friend and braid her hair. Tommy then took Amanda to bed with her, and told her that she loved her. This story line offers an abundance of gender norms and what is expected. While Tommy would prefer to play ball, and interact with boys rather than girls, her mom wanted her to engage with girls. By gifting the Amanda doll to Tommy her mother was inadvertently stating that
Instead of playing tea time Amanda she uses it as a scarecrow in the tree outside her window, in hopes to get more cherries. Tommy and her friend Bill pretended to teach Amanda how to swim in the pond behind Bill’s house. Tommy’s thought processes as that of “if dressing her up is a way of playing with her, then I will dress her in a bathing suit and I will teach her to swim.” Later, Tommy and Bill wanted to play cops and robbers and Amanda was going to be the victim. However, Tommy strolled too far from her friend and found herself lost. During this time, she consoled Amanda telling her that everything was going to be just fine. While talking with Amanda, Tommy kept walking until finally she heard a voice. After finding her way home she got ready for bed and noticed that Amanda was sitting on a nearby chair with messy hair. Tommy took the time to clean up her new friend and braid her hair. Tommy then took Amanda to bed with her, and told her that she loved her. This story line offers an abundance of gender norms and what is expected. While Tommy would prefer to play ball, and interact with boys rather than girls, her mom wanted her to engage with girls. By gifting the Amanda doll to Tommy her mother was inadvertently stating that