An Analysis of the Portrayals of Mothers in Children's Picturebooks in China
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| Title: | An Analysis of the Portrayals of Mothers in Children's Picturebooks in China |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Yanqi Wang, Bi Ying Hu, Xiulan Cheng (ORCID |
| Source: | Early Childhood Education Journal. 2025 53(7):2489-2507. |
| Availability: | Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Intended Audience: | Teachers; Parents |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Information Analyses Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Picture Books, Mothers, Illustrations, Sex Stereotypes, Gender Issues, Parent Role, Social Influences, Cultural Influences |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10643-024-01725-6 |
| ISSN: | 1082-3301 1573-1707 |
| Abstract: | Picturebooks are a unique and complex art form that combines both visual and textual elements. Based on Kohlberg's Cognitive Development Theory and Social Gender Theory, young children's perceptions are likely influenced by portrayals of mothers in picturebooks. Therefore, this content analysis examined both the text and the visual portrayals of mothers in 53 bestselling picturebooks from China between 2019 and 2022, related to the portrayals of mothers. The results revealed a wide and diverse range of representations of the mother's role through both illustrations and text in these popular picturebooks, contributing to the replacement of persistent gender stereotypes. Illustrations revealed patterns related to anthromorphic characters in about 66% of analyzed books as well as patterns related to gendered clothing, accessories, and scene placements, such as the aprons or the kitchen. Additionally, themes of the Caring Mother, Intelligent Mother, All-powerful Supermom, and Defective Mother emerged through our analysis based on the text. Finally, aligned within the Chinese sociocultural context and with Social Gender Theory, the paper provides authors, illustrators, educators, teachers, and parents with recommendations for creating, selecting, and leveraging picturebooks to serve as positive portrayals of mothers for young readers. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1483140 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Picturebooks are a unique and complex art form that combines both visual and textual elements. Based on Kohlberg's Cognitive Development Theory and Social Gender Theory, young children's perceptions are likely influenced by portrayals of mothers in picturebooks. Therefore, this content analysis examined both the text and the visual portrayals of mothers in 53 bestselling picturebooks from China between 2019 and 2022, related to the portrayals of mothers. The results revealed a wide and diverse range of representations of the mother's role through both illustrations and text in these popular picturebooks, contributing to the replacement of persistent gender stereotypes. Illustrations revealed patterns related to anthromorphic characters in about 66% of analyzed books as well as patterns related to gendered clothing, accessories, and scene placements, such as the aprons or the kitchen. Additionally, themes of the Caring Mother, Intelligent Mother, All-powerful Supermom, and Defective Mother emerged through our analysis based on the text. Finally, aligned within the Chinese sociocultural context and with Social Gender Theory, the paper provides authors, illustrators, educators, teachers, and parents with recommendations for creating, selecting, and leveraging picturebooks to serve as positive portrayals of mothers for young readers. |
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| ISSN: | 1082-3301 1573-1707 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10643-024-01725-6 |
