An Analysis of The Stereotypes, Lessons, Gender Roles, The Ideas of Good Versus Evil, and The Concept of Beauty and Fantasy in Children Stories

Introduction

Children’s stories are short tales, each filled with adventures, excitement, sadness, and more. They are usually composed of a minimal amount of words and are rich with illustrations. As such, these stories play a crucial role in fostering a child’s creative imagination. They often consist of stereotypes, morals/lessons, various gender roles, the dichotomy of good vs. evil, and even the concepts of beauty and fantasy. However, children's stories can also impart misleading ideas about the real world in which they live.

Stereotypes in Children's Stories

There are numerous examples of stereotypes in children’s stories, which can lead children to believe that such stereotypes can be used to judge people and things in the real world. According to Merriam-Webster, a stereotype is defined as “to believe unfairly that all people or things with particular characteristics are the same” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Evidence of a stereotype can be found in books like “Cinderella,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Snow White,” which promote the notion that all stepmothers are cruel and evil. For instance, in “Cinderella,” a girl has a cruel and evil stepmother who forces her to work all day long. This portrayal suggests that the stepmother only provides the best for her biological daughters, which is a stereotype because, in reality, this is not always true. In fact, the majority of stepmothers in the non-fictional world love and care for their stepchildren as their own. Sadly, the idea that all stepmothers are cruel and evil persists even today. The impression that all stepmothers are cruel is absurd, given that there are about 36 million stepmothers in the United States alone. Imagine how many more stepmothers exist worldwide. It is impossible to claim that all these women are unkind and cruel.

Gender Roles in Children's Stories

Another example of a stereotype in children’s stories is found in the portrayal of gender roles. The book “Rapunzel” is a classic example where this stereotype is evident. “Rapunzel” tells the story of a woman held captive in a tower who must be “rescued” by a man. According to this narrative, the stereotype suggests that the woman being rescued should be beautiful and innocent, while the man rescuing her should be handsome, brave, and strong. This stereotype is not only present in “Rapunzel” but also in many other stories, such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Hence, the stereotypes in children’s stories establish biased views about the roles of women and men among young girls and boys living in the 21st century.

The Theme of Good vs. Evil

Many children’s stories involve a Good versus Evil theme, which is one of the most popular as it is typically full of suspense. However, these types of stories are not always the most beneficial to read. An example of a good vs. evil children’s story is “Hansel and Gretel.” In this tale, the protagonists, Hansel and Gretel, represent good, while the antagonists, their stepmother and the cannibal witch, represent evil. These children endure a miserable life after their mother dies, and when their stepmother arrives, their situation worsens. They are abandoned in the forest by their stepmother and captured by a cannibal witch. Ultimately, Gretel pushes the cruel witch into the oven, and they return home with her riches, living happily ever after with their father. This ending suggests that good always triumphs over evil and that life will be full of “happily ever after” endings. Such storylines often lead young minds to believe that life will always conclude with a “happy ending” after facing various troubles and hardships. Ultimately, the “happily ever after” endings and the “good conquers evil” narratives create a misleading perception for children, teaching them that there is a rainbow around every corner.

Conclusion

Overall, children’s stories are an essential part of a child’s life, providing an introduction to fiction and something to love and enjoy as they grow up. Through this analysis, it seems that children’s stories may have a more negative impact on young children than a positive one. False stereotypes, such as all stepmothers being cruel and evil, the rigid roles of men and women, the “good conquers evil” plot, and the “happily ever after” endings often embedded in children’s stories, can confuse a child about the difference between the real and fictional worlds.

References:

• Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Stereotype. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stereotype