Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 6-1997 Little Golden BooksTM: An Analysis of Every Child’s Literature Sandra Ballman-Burke Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Ballman-Burke, Sandra, "Little Golden BooksTM: An Analysis of Every Child’s Literature" (1997). Master's Theses. 4212. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4212 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS™ : AN ANALYSIS OF EVERY CHILD'S LITERTURE by Sandra Ballman-Burke A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Department of Sociology Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan June 1997 Copyright by Sandra Ballman-Burke 1997 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful for the opportunity to thank the members of my graduate committee, Dr. Susan Caringella-MacDonald, Dr. Gerald Markle and Dr. Douglas Davidson, for their patience in allowing this work to come to fruition and for taking their time to review the contents. I would particularly like to thank Dr. Susan Caringella-MacDonald for her organizational and editorial assistance. Her help with this project, as well as many others over the past decade, has been both invaluable and remarkable! Thank you! I must also thank my daughters, Christina and Katherine. You have been my inspiration!. Sandra Ballman-Burke ii LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS™ : AN ANALYSIS OF EVERY CHILD'S LITERATURE Sandra Ballman-Burke, M.A. Western Michigan University, 1997 Modeling theory proposes that consequences received by the mo­ del are considered critical in determining whether or not modeled behaviors will be imitated (Bandura, Ross & Ross, 1961). Despite the apparent significance of consequences, analyses of children's literature have failed to explore this link. Utili­ zing feminist research perspectives, I sought to examine variables explored in previous analyses of picture books, with emphasis on consequences received by models. I was interested in (a) conse­ quences received by female and male characters when engaged in instrumental/independent activities (Kortenhaus & Demarest, 1993); (b) the ways in which female and male characters are stereotyped; and (c) changes in female and male characterizations two decades. Little Golden Books™ published over two decades were sam­ ples. Frequency counts were compiled on a number of variables. Statistical analyses were utilized to determine relationships be­ tween variables and generalizability of findings. Characters were found to receive differential consequences by sex when engaged in socially valued activities. Female characters when visible, were portrayed in traditional roles. Characteriza­ tions remained fairly constant over the two decades examined. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ii LIST OF TABLES. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. vi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Nature v. Nurture: The Controversy in Brief.......... 1 Consequences and Sex-Role Modeling: How It Really Works.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Language as Oppressor.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 Sex-Role Modeling, Language and Children's Picture Books......................................... 10 Preview of the Study.................................. 13 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE................................. 16 Content Analyses of Children's Literature............. 16 Summary............................................... 24 Criticisms............................................ 26 III. FEMINIST THEORY: CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WOMEN AS AN OPPRESSED GROUP.................................... 30 Feminist Theoretical Assumptions...................... 30 Marxian Contributions.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 Thorsten Veblen and the Feminist Paradigm............. 40 Structuralist Contributions to Feminism............... 44 IV. METHODS. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 47 Study Objectives...................................... 47 Research Design....................................... 49 iii Table of Contents--continued CHAPTER Sampling Procedure.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Hypotheses.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 54 Sample One Consisting of Little Golden Books™ Published From 1972 Through 1982... ..... ..... ...... .. 54 Sample Two Consisting of Little Golden Books™ Published From 1983 Through 1992. ..... .......... ..... 55 A Two Sample Comparison............................. 56 Key Variables Operationally Defined.................... 57 Sex of Character.................................... 57 Instrumental-Independent Activities................. 57 Passive-Dependent Activities........................ 58 Positive Consequences for Instrumental-Independent Activities.......................................... 59 Negative Consequences for Instrumental-Independent Activities.......................................... 59 Title............................................... 60 Pictures. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 60 Central Characters.................................. 61 Symbolic Dominance.................................. 61 Symbolic Submission................................. 61 Data Collection........................................ 61 Data Analysis.......................................... 62 Samples One and Two................................. 62 Comparison of Two Samples........................... 64 V. FINDINGS................................................. 67 iv Table of Contents--continued CHAPTER Sample One............................................ 67 Sample Two. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 A Two Sample Comparison............................... 86 VI. DISCUSSION. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 102 Overall Shortcomings and Recommendations.............. 113 APPENDICES A. Sampling Frame for Little Golden Books™ Published From 1972-1982................................................ 116 B. Sampling Frame for Little Golden Books™ Published Between 1983 and 1992.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 126 C. Chi-Square Calculations for Sample 1. ... ..... .... ..... .. 137 D. Chi-Square Values for Sample 2........ ........ ...... ..... 148 E. Chi-square Tests of Difference Between Two Samples....... 159 BIBLIOGRAPHY.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 187 V LIST OF TABLES 1. Expected and Observed Frequencies and Percents for Female and Male Characters in Little Golden Books™ Published From 1972-1982 on Consequences Variables................................................. 72 2. Expected and Observed Frequencies and Percents for Female and Male Characters in Little Golden Books™ Published From 1972-1982 Instrumental-Independent and Passive-Dependent Activities.......................... 73 3. Expected and Observed Frequencies and Percents for Female and Male Characters in Little Golden Books™ Published From 1972-1982 on Dominance Variables........... 74 4. Frequencies, Ratios, and Chi-square Values for Females and Males in Little Golden Books™ Published Between 1972-1982.. ... .... .... .......... ...... .. 76 5. Expected and Observed Frequencies and Percents for Female and Male Characters in Little Golden Books™ Published From 1983-1992 on Consequences Variables................................................. 82 6. Expected and Observed Frequencies and Percents for Female and Male Characters in Little Golden Books™ Published From 1983-1992 Instrumental-Independent and Passive-Dependent Activities and Pictured Characters................................................ 84 7. Expected and Observed Frequencies and Percents for Female and Male Characters in Little Golden Books™ Published From 1983-1992 on Dominance Variables........... 85 8. Frequencies, Ratios, and Chi-square Values for Females and Males in Two Samples of Little Golden Books™, Published 1983-1992....................................... 87 9. Comparison of Female to Male Ratios in Four Studies....... 97 10. Frequencies, Ratios, and Chi-square Values for Females and Males in Two Samples of Little Golden Books™, 1972-1982 and 1983-1992................................... 100 vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Nature v. Nurture: The Controversy in Brief Bobby puts on his pants, and socks, and shoes. He can dress himself. I put on mine. Over my head goes my shirt. Oops! My arm is stuck. Mommy will help me put it on. Mommy buckles my shoes. 'You're a good girl, Martha,' says Mommy. 'You can almost dress yourself.' (Cushman, 1972, seventh printing) When I casually asked associates and family members, "Why does Bobby dress himself, while Martha does not?", a bevy of explanations was offered. "Bobby is older." "Bobby is bigger." "Bobby is anxious to demonstrate his competence." "Bobby is ·able to dress himself, but Martha needs help." "Bobby's mother is more concerned with Martha's appearance than Bobby's." "Martha wants help, so she stalls." "Bob­ by's clothing is easier to put on." Sociological research has posed essentially the same question culminating in a literature consisting of diverse findings and inter­ pretations advocating both nature and nurture perspectives. For example, E.O.