The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies

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Diversity among Police Officers as Represented in Non-Fiction Children's Literature


Affiliations
1 Bowling Green State University, United States
2 Ball State University, United States
     

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Gender/racial stereotyping and gender/racial bias in children's books have been the subjects of many research investigations over time. Hughes and Seta (2003) suggested stereotypes negatively impact how children perceive their educational, occupational, and social role options in life. Policing, a predominately white male occupation, was the targeted occupation to explore. This investigation examined the diversity of police officers as represented in 18 nonfiction children's books about policing. A content analysis was conducted on current picture books about policing and police officers. This investigation followed Charles' (1998) eight steps for content analysis and modified methodologies suggested by Martinez and Harmon (2012). Each book was analyzed quantitatively to examine the number of pictures of officers by gender and by race. Conclusions and implications were drawn from the results obtained.

Keywords

Children's Literature, Gender/Race in Children's Literature, Occupational Stereotypes.
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  • Diversity among Police Officers as Represented in Non-Fiction Children's Literature

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Authors

Cindy Hendricks
Bowling Green State University, United States
Brittany Jett
Bowling Green State University, United States
James Hendricks
Ball State University, United States

Abstract


Gender/racial stereotyping and gender/racial bias in children's books have been the subjects of many research investigations over time. Hughes and Seta (2003) suggested stereotypes negatively impact how children perceive their educational, occupational, and social role options in life. Policing, a predominately white male occupation, was the targeted occupation to explore. This investigation examined the diversity of police officers as represented in 18 nonfiction children's books about policing. A content analysis was conducted on current picture books about policing and police officers. This investigation followed Charles' (1998) eight steps for content analysis and modified methodologies suggested by Martinez and Harmon (2012). Each book was analyzed quantitatively to examine the number of pictures of officers by gender and by race. Conclusions and implications were drawn from the results obtained.

Keywords


Children's Literature, Gender/Race in Children's Literature, Occupational Stereotypes.

References