Childism as a Critical Lens on Contemporary Children in Literature: Identifying and Disrupting Stereotypes

• In Event: Millennium Hotel Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Readings of Culture and Norms in/Around Classrooms

Abstract

Realizing the need to acknowledge perceptions of childhood as educators seek to nurture agency in young learners, this study looks across four critical content analyses of children's literature to identify significant uses and implications for literature and curricular materials. The findings pointed to specific aspects of childism as a theory such as the role of adults, the potential of children as advocates for others, and the need to respect agency in situations beyond those of necessity. Of interest is the significance of coupling childism as a critical theory with other critical lens to help situate each study.

Authors

• Janelle B. Mathis, University of North Texas

• Sara Alharbi, University of North Texas

• Nichelle DeVaughn, University of North Texas

• Traci Pettet, University of North Texas

• Brett Stamm, University of North Texas

• April M. Walker, University of North Texas