Is Unequal Treatment of Females Diminishing in Children's Picture Books?.

Abstract

Rosalind E. Engel A recent study analyzed the percent age of female characters appearing in Caldecott Medal and Honor books over the 25 year period from 1951 to 1975. The study found that between 1951 and 1955,46% of the characters in the books were female. The percentage decreased steadily, with 41% from 1956-1960, 35% from 1961-1965,26% from 1966-1970, and 22% from 1971-1975 (Nilsen, 1978, p. 255). Using the same counting method as Nilsen used, I have analyzed the Caldecott Medal and Honor books for 1976-1980 and found that they included 28% female characters, bare ly a counter to the long downward trend of the earlier periods. I followed the guidelines for count ing characters established by Nilsen to the extent that they were known. Each different character that ap peared in the text and illustrations of a book was categorized as male, female, or neuter, and counted. The gender was determined by name, physical characteristics, attire, or personal pronoun references. Since not all characters in the books were human, anthropomorphized animals or objects were also categorized and counted. A group containing seven or more individuals was counted as one character according to which sex dominated in the group, or neuter if it contained equal numbers. If sex differences weren't visually apparent, the group was considered neuter. In the 19 books I analyzed, a total of 283 male and 112 female characters was found.

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