Mapping Reader Responses to LGBTQ Young Adult Novels and Children's Storybooks

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 29
  In Roundtable Session: The Roles of Readers, Media, and Literature in Ethical and Global Learning: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Recently, our nation’s politics have been fraught with controversy regarding gender and sexual diversity. Literature for young people is commonly used by educators to address difficult topics such as these. However, few large-scale studies have compared the effectiveness of different books in opening conversations and transforming attitudes about challenging issues. This study is based upon qualitative narrative and quantitative pre-/post-survey data from over 750 adolescents and adults regarding over 50 books (with at least 25 readers each). This presentation will compare how these books were interpreted and discussed by the readers, if and how this process challenged the readers’ attitudes toward gender and sexual diversity, and how the backgrounds and identities of individual readers impacted their responses.

Authors

• Scott A. Beck, Georgia Southern University

• Dina C Walker-DeVose, Georgia Southern University

• Laura Agnich, Georgia Southern University

• Caren Town, Georgia Southern University