Gender, age and physical activity representation in children’s colouring books

Vladimir Martínez Bello; Joanne Hill

doi:10.18002/cg.v0i15.6075

Authors

Vladimir Martínez Bello Universidad de Valencia - España
Joanne Hill University of Bedfordshire – Inglaterra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18002/cg.v0i15.6075

Keywords:

colouring books, children, gender, physical activity, representation

Abstract

Despite publishing houses recognizing the importance of ensuring equal representation of all people in curricular materials and scholars also noting their importance in teaching children gendered behaviours, it is still common to find stereotypically gendered non-coeducational curriculum materials in the international market. The aim of this study is to determine the representation of female and male characters in the illustrations of six colouring books published in the United Kingdom entitled “Books for Girls” and “Books for Boys”. A quantitative content analysis, and a supporting qualitative discourse analysis were carried out. This paper examines the effect of constructing gender difference in children’s colouring books. Gender bias in early childhood education poses the risk of perpetuating a manifestation of inequality.

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Author Biographies

Vladimir Martínez Bello, Universidad de Valencia - España

Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal. Universitat de València. Avenida Tarongers 4, 46022.

Ph. D. Physical Education University of Valencia. Associate Professor Faculty of Teaching, University of Valencia, Spain.

Joanne Hill, University of Bedfordshire – Inglaterra

Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research. University of Bedfordshire. Polhill Avenue, Bedford. MK41 9EA, United Kingdom.

Ph. D. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, University of Bedforshire, United Kingdom. Senior Lecturer Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research. University of Bedfordshire.

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