Anti-boy-tic: The Deconstruction of Masculinity in Children’s Literature — A Research Approach

Abstract

Masculinity is not a fixed or biologically determined trait, but rather a social and cultural construct, formed and reproduced through everyday practices, discourses, and institutions. Raewyn Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity highlighted the dynamic nature of masculinities, demonstrating that there are multiple and hierarchically organized forms of manhood that shift across historical and social contexts. This paper focuses on the construction of masculinity during childhood, with an emphasis on the role of children's literature as a mechanism of socialization and transmission of dominant norms. Through the analysis of illustrated children's books, it explores how the boy is represented and how gender roles are either reproduced or challenged within the framework of children's reading experiences.