Many people think that children’s books are cute and innocent. However, the truth is that most children’s books reveal stereotypes and do not support gender equality. This statement proves to be true in the story Pinkalicious: Fairy House by Victoria Kann. Even though it could be argued that the author supports gender equality, a feminist critique of Pinkalicious: Fairy House shows that the author does not support gender equality.
First, it is evident that the author does not support gender equality through gender roles. The first instance in the story is a masculine role. The story says, “‘What are you doing?’ asked Peter” (Kann 10). This is a masculine role because the boy, Peter, is looking out for the girl. The role of a male character …show more content…
Gender bias appears in the text when the fairies do not come to the garden. The text says, “When Peter saw how sad I looked he said ‘Cheer up – the pink flower buds are blooming!’” (Kann 17). The girl in the story is upset that the fairies did not come. Peter is trying to cheer her up by talking about the flowers that are blooming. This could also be considered a gender role because males are supposed to be a woman’s hero. However, this is a gender bias because the author thinks that women need saving. This sends the message that boys are supposed to save and protect the girls. More of the author’s unequal views come later in the story. The story says, “But as I counted the stars, my eyelids got heavy. I couldn’t help it. I drifted off to sleep” (Kann 25). This is a sexist view because the girl is falling asleep. It is as if girls are not strong or brave enough to go after something they want. In the story, the girl wanted to stay up all night to see the fairies, but she ended up falling asleep before the fairies came. As one can see, the author has sexist and biased views, which is why the author does not support gender
First, it is evident that the author does not support gender equality through gender roles. The first instance in the story is a masculine role. The story says, “‘What are you doing?’ asked Peter” (Kann 10). This is a masculine role because the boy, Peter, is looking out for the girl. The role of a male character …show more content…
Gender bias appears in the text when the fairies do not come to the garden. The text says, “When Peter saw how sad I looked he said ‘Cheer up – the pink flower buds are blooming!’” (Kann 17). The girl in the story is upset that the fairies did not come. Peter is trying to cheer her up by talking about the flowers that are blooming. This could also be considered a gender role because males are supposed to be a woman’s hero. However, this is a gender bias because the author thinks that women need saving. This sends the message that boys are supposed to save and protect the girls. More of the author’s unequal views come later in the story. The story says, “But as I counted the stars, my eyelids got heavy. I couldn’t help it. I drifted off to sleep” (Kann 25). This is a sexist view because the girl is falling asleep. It is as if girls are not strong or brave enough to go after something they want. In the story, the girl wanted to stay up all night to see the fairies, but she ended up falling asleep before the fairies came. As one can see, the author has sexist and biased views, which is why the author does not support gender