Do Great Books Transcend Gender?
Are there really such things as Boy Books and Girl Books?
As my husband and I were pondering this subject, we came up with the following set of responses.
Classic books usually transcend gender. We all have our own list of what will be required reading. My girls will have to read The Hobbit; for instance. Some people would say it is a “boy” book. I never, ever thought of King Arthur as a “boy” book until someone else brought it up. Oftentimes books that are considered “girlie” are being stereotyped by someone who has not even read the books. The Little Princess is an example of a book that is not overwhelmingly girlie, (two very strong male charaters...) but the title implies that it is a “girlie” book.
Your interaction with your child after the book might be tailored on gender. For instance, when you read your boys Little House on the Prairie series, you would focus on the themes of obedience, participation in family chores, and also emphasize identifying with the male characters, and the underlying theme of Pa’s commitment to providing for his family. With a girl, you might emphasize some of the same themes; but also identifying with Laura (temper, self control) and Ma (gentleness and submission) and some of the themes of those characters. Another example: my husband said one of the good things about having to read Little Women was that it really helped him define the character qualities/personalities he most appreciated in a woman because he was reading about four distinct “women” with distinct personalities. It was not his favorite book, but he does not begrudge having to read it.
Children should have to read at least one classic book from every genre before they graduate. (mystery, poetry, autobiography, historical fiction, science fiction, Shakespeare, adventure etc.) O.K. I am not really sure Shakespeare is in his own genre; but you get the idea.
In elementary school; the goal is making sure your children want to read! If they really “hate” what they are reading, then find something else to substitute and stick it on the shelf. If they do become voracious readers, they will read everything they can get there hands on as they grow. That is when you make sure trash novels and fluff are not the things you have readily available.
Personality/Maturity might play a bigger role then gender. I am a voracious reader and love literature from all centuries (even Homer) and genres, and I never have made it through all of Pilgrim’s Progress (gasp). If my girls do not like The Hobbit, it will probably be because of personality or maturity, not gender. So, I won’t make them finish the series.
Some books on “great books” lists available should not have to be read by anyone. Lord of the Flies comes immediately to mind for us. I found it to be pagan, secular and humanist and not the kind of thing I want my teenagers to be filling their minds with. If my teens want to read it, I will recognize the need to pick my battles, but it is certainly not going to be on our required reading list. Another book my husband mentioned is Great Expectations. I do not intend to make my children read that book. I am not trying to flame anyone who would put these on a required reading list per #1 either; just stating our personal opinions about those two books.
Some books (a very few) I really, really want my girls to read and I just don’t think my sons will need to read them. (or vice versa) Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss is my example. I will probably give this book to my girls as a gift after they have their first child. I am not certain about the right timing; but the book is a powerful classic that women everywhere can identify deeply with. It would be a stretch for me to make my son read any of the Barbara Bush memoirs I have loved; yet I will definitely want my girls to read a good biography about Lincoln.
I totally agree with you Amy! Great books teach *all* of us something, despite the gender of the character. I wasn't a Christian during my formative, literature reading years, so I'll have to rely on prayer and sound advice when we get to that point. But, just thinking right now, I'd have to say that it will be a chore to read Moby D*ck with my boys. I remember reading that in high school and just hating it! You blog looks beautiful -- it's obviously been a while since I was here. Love the redesign!
Great post, and congrats on being blog of the week! I definitely agree that great lit. spans genders. Great literature talks about life truths, not just gender truths, and by splitting books into "his" and "hers", we cut off a wonderful way for genders to get to know and appreciate eachother better.
Jennifer
I agree with you about the whole books and gender thing. We just finished listening to three little house books on cd this past week and my son loves them. They are definitely genderless books and there is so much to glean from them character wise and history wise.
I also really love the paint color of your room.
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
