Beneath the Surface: Representations of Gender, Race, and Sexuality on Young Adult Literature Book Covers

• In Event: Poster Session 15
  In Poster Session: Pushing Student Engagement in Constructivist and Critical Learning Environments

Abstract

This presentation examines representations of gender in YAL book covers and the possible implications these representations have on adolescent readers. Additionally, the presentation offers suggestions for teachers utilizing YAL and critical literacy in their own classroom practice. The study serves as a preliminary discussion point for ways gender stereotyping is portrayed to adolescent audiences and consists of two phases. In the first phase of the study, the researchers elicited YAL books from a group of students’ independent reading and analyzed YAL covers for implicit messages about gender, race, and sexuality. The second phase consists of a lesson conducted with the students to guide them through a similar analytical exercise. Student work products and implications for this exercise will be discussed.

Authors

• Desirae Eva Krell, University of Florida

• Kathleen C Colantonio-Yurko, University of Florida