Blog Post 3

“Gendered Body Language in Children’s Literature over Time”


The article by Mahlberg and Cermakova (2022), titled “Gendered Body Language in Children’s Literature over Time,” likely responds to existing research or discussions about the portrayal of gender in children’s literature. It may address assumptions or findings from previous studies regarding the representation of body language and gender stereotypes in books targeted at children. The authors may agree, disagree, or modify these previous perspectives based on their own analysis of how gendered body language has evolved or persisted in children’s literature over time.

Several academics and critics who have researched gender portrayal in literature, especially in children’s literature, are probably addressed in this article. Judith Butler is one particular academic whose work might be discussed or referenced in the piece. Butler is well-known for her innovative research on gender performativity, which has impacted a wide range of studies looking at gender roles and manifestations in many cultural objects, such as literature. Mahlberg and Cermakova could potentially draw upon Butler’s theories to structure their examination of the representation of gendered body language in children’s literature across history.

The article looks at how children’s literature from various historical eras portrays gendered body language. Its thesis or argument can center on the notion that gendered body language is portrayed in children’s books in recognizable ways that change over time. The authors may examine how these representations affect children’s knowledge of gender roles and conventions and contend that these depictions reflect broader cultural attitudes and perceptions of gender. They might also stress the significance of analyzing and even disputing these images in order to encourage more inclusive and diverse representations in children’s literature.

This article’s claim regarding how gendered body language is portrayed in children’s books probably draws on a range of sources. This proof might consist of:

Analysis of particular examples: To show how gendered body language is portrayed and how it has changed over time, the writers may examine passages or drawings from children’s books from various historical eras.
Comparative studies: To find trends or shifts in representation, the article may examine how gendered body language is portrayed in children’s books from various historical periods or cultural contexts.

Ultimately, it appears that the article synthesizes a variety of facts to construct a thorough case concerning the evolution of gendered body language representation in children’s literature and its wider implications.

This article uses tables more than five times to support its arguments. For instance, the term “arms” appears in four clusters of women in Table 3 (ranks 3, 7, 8, and 15). Only the feminine form of the cluster and threw her arms round appears, and three of them are more common in the feminine variant.

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