Gifted girls in fiction

Written by Catriona Coote Wednesday, 14 September 2011 23:25

Denise Wood is moderating a very interesting online conference on 'What is it about gifted girls?' and as a result of one of the posts I was yet again thinking about how girls – and women – are portrayed in fiction. Especially gifted/talented girls. In May this year, The Guardian newspaper website cited a study that: 'found that males are central characters in 57% of children's books published each year, with just 31% having female central characters. Male animals are central characters in 23% of books per year, the study found, while female animals star in only 7.5%.' The study, led by Janice McCabe, a professor of sociology at Florida State University, looked at nearly 6000 children's books published between 1900-2000.  (see Guardian article)

While I can't provide data, I do know, from talking to publishers and booksellers, that sales and marketing research backs up this bias. Publishers prefer books with male protagonists because the unfortunate reality is that while girls will read books that have male leads, boys generally won't read stories with female leads lest they be seen as – you guessed it – 'girly' or 'feminine'. Result: publishers of children's literature know that a book that has a male protagonist has a greater chance of selling to a wider readership and as publishing is about getting people to buy books, they publish what will sell. Consequence: most writers are aware of this and so they create stories that publishers are more likely to accept – and that both girls and boys will read, which reinforces the existing problem.

Some writers try and resolve this bias towards boys by given them a girl partner or side-kick. This sometimes works but it is dependent on the writer. JKRowling did this in the Harry Potter series but struggled early on to break the gender-stereotype of Hermione as the brainiac and Harry as the brawn with Ron as the clown. So often girls in fiction are cast either as those in need of rescuing or protecting or those who are seen as 'not a real girl' because they are powerful in some way.

This is an issue that Tamora Pierce likes to explore in her fantasy fiction; she feels so passionately about it that she co-founded Sheroes Central where girls could discuss this type of issue – as well as more light-hearted things. Pierce's 'sheroes' are strong, gifted/talented girls and women who strive to find a balance between fulfilling their potentional and having healthy relationships with other men and women.

Kerry Greenwood is an Australian writer for both adults and children who likes to have a strong, gifted female protagonist and nvariably uses her to explore the complex choices such women face.

An interesting recent release from Walker Books is Mary's Penny, a retelling of a traditional story where a farmer tries to choose who, of his two sons, shall inherit his farm. Then his daughter asks to be considered – shock, horror! The resolution is interesting and subtle, a good conversation-starter for classrooms and families.

Joan Aiken, a highly-regarded English children's author, fills her books with strong-minded girls of ability who survive many adventures and often save the day. In less overt ways than Tamora Pierce, Aiken likes to challenge the reader to think about their attitudes towards girls and women and their role in society.

These are just off the top of my head. Do you have a favourite book or writer to recommend who raises issues about being a gifted girl or that encourages girls, gifted or otherwise, to aspire to become the most they can be, whether that fits within family and societal expectations or not? If so, please share by commenting below.

Just loaded: The Truth About Verity Sparks

Read but haven't yet reviewed:  Vampyre (picture book from Walker) – very interesting and thought-provoking book by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Andrew Yeo,; themes include identity, family expectation and personal aspiration

Currently Reading: every Colin Thompson picture book and novel I can get my hands on!

Until next time - happy reading!