Mem Fox, in "Men Who Weep, Boys Who Dance: The Gender Agenda Between the Lines in Children's Literature" examines the presence of sexism in children's literature, and the need for writers to expand the capabilities of their characters. Fox writes from a personal viewpoint, sharing the experiences how she first became aware of it; studies of her undergraduate students; and a few situations from some of her 24 children's books.
She relates that gender problems have spanned over many generations; in a recent experiment with her students, Fox asked them to compose the beginning of their own children's story and read it to the class. Most of her students chose to make their main character male. When asked if they could change it to a female without ruining the storyline, the students questioned why they didn't do that in the first place. Fox observes that even with all our awareness of sexism today, females still follow the constraints of "ideal" gender roles.
Fox writes that girls are told they can do anything and be anyone; so why don't we emphasize that more in children's literature? She writes that we need to encourage them to do things that they aren't normally considered to be good at, things that are considered to be "boy" actions, such as being fast, tough, or strong. She also relates the flip-side: boys need to be encouraged to be sensitive, needing, and also given the permission to show their feelings without being considered "weak" or a "sissy." Fox cites examples from her own books to illustrate these points.
Once in a while, she concludes, writers of children's literature need to reverse the roles of males and females in their stories. Writers should also strive to make their characters as close to life as possible. In closing, she warns that this thought ought not be taken to the extreme. Writers should be aware of the world of political correctness, but not manipulated or constrained by it. Instead, they should open up a place to discuss the endless possibilities in life with their readers.
Fox presents some very startling and interesting information on a subject that affects people everywhere. Children's literature is one of the very first reading choices for anyone, and the plots and characters influence them greatly. This article is sure to make anyone who reads it more aware that sexism is still an overwhelming problem in the world of literature.
Fox supports her thesis with many types of information. She could have cited more outside sources, for at times, the article seems one-sided. But, by doing her own study of sexism in children's literature with college students who grew up in a more "sexually aware" world, Fox's words become more credible and believable. She makes it a more personal and representative article by examining storylines in her own children's books, for it gives her a sense of expertise on the subject, showing the reader how she personally deals with sexism.
One of the most effective exerpts from her article was her description of an instance in her writing of when she fell victim to sexist assumptions. Fox relates her own embarrassment in discovering that her book, With Love, At Christmas included a helpless female unable to support her family because her husband became too ill to work. By acknowledging this error, Fox becomes a "friend" who is using her own errors as examples to help others avoid the same mistakes.
Fox was very thorough in her examination of both sides of this gender problem. She adds credibility to her article by presenting the whole picture of such a problem, being equally sensitive to both males and females. It helps a reader to realize that we often think of men that are sensitive as being "sissies" or "weak." Fox helps us realize that writers must break out of the bonds of sexism, making characters more open to human potential.
A quote from Fox gives us a real sense of the purpose behind her article. She writes, "Both genders have to be allowed to be as real in literature as they are in life."
She is trying to give writers of children's books a way to alleviate gender problems in their writing, replacing it with the point that children should be encouraged to fulfill their dreams.
This article would be a very useful tool for many people, especially those interested in children's literature. It brings light to a problem that often occurs in this genre, as well as ways a writer can identify and eliminate it. The article also provides suggestions for discussing the role of sexism in stories within the classroom. By discussing sexism within stories, teachers can help students take notice of when it occurs and that it shouldn't be a part of their writing. This article is also a great tool for a women's or a men's studies course, because it examines a widely-known genre where sexism occurs, and is a subject that can be easily accessed by nearly anyone.
Overall, Fox presents a very valid point through thought and
example. She uses many personal examples to help us recognize
her point. She includes such a wide variety of options for someone
to deal with sexism in writing that it makes her a very credible
source of both fact and solution. Fox has made a very commendable
effort to expand the thinking processes of writers of children's
literature.
© Heather Myers, Winona (MN) State University, 30 January 1997. This document may be freely distributed for educational use as long as this notice of its authorship accompanies its distribution.
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