What Are the Girls Doing, and What Are the Boys Doing in Children’s and Young Adult Literature?

A Critical Approach Using Fundamental Analytical Concepts from Gender Studies

Abstract

Through selected examples from children’s and young adult literature this article showcases fundamental ideology- and socio-critical analytical approaches and perspectives in the field of gender studies. Both content and narratological form will be examined with regard to the representation of sex and gender. Gender Studies operate with four analytical categories, which are also focused on here: voice, gaze, concept of body and agency. The author demonstrates the potential of these categories for the analysis of Children’s and Young Adult Literature.