A Study of Gender Representation in Silver Birch Award Nominees from 2009 and 2019: A Queer Theory Perspective
Abstract
Gender-based ideologies permeate everyday spaces and materials, including children’s literature. This study explores and compares gender representation in Canadian authored fiction nominees for the prestigious Silver Birch award from 2009 and 2019 (OLA, 2019). Using methodological tools from critical discourse study (Fairclough, 2013; Wodak & Meyer, 2016) and ethnographic content analysis (ECA; Altheide, 1987; 2004) with queer theory (Blaise & Taylor, 2012) as a theoretical lens, this study analyzed ten Silver Birch (OLA, 2019) fiction nominee novels from 2009 and ten from 2019. Depictions of gender within the books are assessed through character descriptions, contexts the characters are in, and language used by and between characters. Findings determine a shift to more equal representations in terms of the number of girls and boys as lead or title characters in the 2019 texts. Additionally, the 2019 texts demonstrate a change as girl characters are more active and involved in stories, and boys crossing the gender line. Despite positive shifts, heteronormative gender roles remain prevalent and plentiful.