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How males are portrayed in realistic juvenile fiction and how this portrayal has changed over the past twenty years

University of British Columbia

This research investigated how males are portrayed in realistic juvenile fiction and how this portrayal has changed over the past twenty years. A deconstructionist approach was taken to analyze the primary male characters in award winning realistic juvenile fiction. The researcher used a three-step approach to analyze the primary male characters in the books. First, templates with identified characteristics were used to categorize various features of all the primary characters. Second, characteristics occurring repeatedly were identified, grouped and labeled. These were defined as "Codes" and are the areas through which primary characters are portrayed in realistic juvenile fiction. The codes identified were: "Conflict Resolution," "Emotions," "Race," "Relationships," and "Success." Third, features specific to primary male characters that were found within the codes were identified and discussed. Results showed that male characters are portrayed in a positive light, but that this portrayal is narrow in its scope. Men are portrayed more narrowly and stereotypically than are boys. The change over the past twenty years has been minimal, but males have become more multidimensional in realistic juvenile fiction during the past ten years.

Thesis/Dissertation

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2009-01-11

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3561

Curriculum Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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