Children’s Literature as a Tool for Gender Appropriation

Gender roles are not innate but learned, that is why childhood is a very important period in which a person learns his/her roles. Through all kinds of external stimuli children are constructed as boys and girls who behave in ways appropriate to their sex. Thus gender differences and hierarchy between sexes are imposed on children right from the beginning until they become gender stereotyped members of patriarchy. Literature is one of the most effective means of contribution to this process of appropriation. Children are put to sleep –not only literally but figuratively- with tales of beautiful but weak princesses waiting for a handsome prince to save them. By means of fairy tales children learn which part they should play throughout their lives and they are warned against the punishments awaiting those who rebel. In the end they learn to take their roles for granted. This article discusses how children’s literature is used during the process of gender appropriation, based on various scientific research results