The Role of Patriarchy and Gender Stereotyping in Children's Books: with Reference to Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Lecturer, Department of English, Chittagong Independent University, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper focuses on the mechanisms of patriarchy and gender-stereotyping that influences the plots and characters in children’s books. . To shed light on these aspects, two of the most prominent series of novels in children’s literature have been focused on namely, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. It also explains how these elements leave traces in their psychology that continue as children grow up. Harry Potter depicts the life of a young wizard and the adventures he undergoes in his attempts to defeat the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort. The Chronicles of Narnia depicts the Pevensie sibling’s accidental discovery of a fictional land called Narnia and the adventures that follow. Both these series represent the highly creative realm of childhood imagination. The innocence of these novels, however, is shredded through their portrayal and treatment of both sexes. Thus, this study works on debunking these misogynist stereotypes to suggest a gender-neutral friendly field of children’s literature.

Keywords

Journal of English Literature and Cultural Studies
Volume 2, Issue 4
March 2022
Pages 16-25

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