"I Imagined Her With Brown Hair and Peach Skin": Examining Children's Assumptions in Their Transactions With Books

• In Event: Do You Really See Me? An Examination of the Influences of Educator and Student Perceptions on Development

Abstract

Drawing from feminist theory and critical race theory, we examined the gender and racial assumptions and biases children bring to their transactions with books. We conducted three book clubs with five 4th-grade girls from diverse racial backgrounds. We analyzed transcripts of video recordings from the book clubs and children’s artwork. We found they worked collectively to maintain and disrupt gender binaries. They also demonstrated emerging knowledge about different ethnicities and grappled with skin color terminology and white supremacy.

Authors

• Xiaoying Zhao, Illinois State University

• Christie Angleton, Illinois State University