In spring 2021, the “Monsieur Patate” brand became “Tête de Patate”. A few months later, Lego announced that its popular blocks would no longer be gendered. If we see a movement to end gender stereotypes among certain toy manufacturers, what about children’s literature? Press discussed the matter with authors and specialists.
“Three friends have a brilliant idea. A grandiose plan that could allow them to realize their biggest dream: to sleep with girls ”, summarizes the back cover of MOFO, the most recent novel by Olivier Simard. With such a premise, it seems obvious that the book is aimed first and foremost at a male audience. “It was not intentional,” says the author. It came naturally to me. ”
“But you have a little plan to make the guys read …”, intervenes his wife, the author Laurence Beaudoin-Masse.
With its series Youtubers, yes, admits the former high school teacher. “It’s a mission that I had given myself at the start. […] I had a hard time finding novels that appealed to my students. I told myself that at some point, I was going to try to get them by writing something. ”
Creating stories that will appeal to boys more does not mean falling into stereotypes, however, the couple said.
In MOFO, Olivier Simard discusses toxic masculinity. If, at first glance, his characters seem to be tough guys, we discover that it is a shell.
My intention through this is to make guys want to give themselves the right to be vulnerable. […] If inside of you you feel weird playing tough and it sounds wrong, it may be because you don’t have to play tough.
Olivier Simard, author of MOFO
His wife, whose novels are more aimed at a female audience, is also concerned with breaking out of stereotypes. “When I write, I want to show a plurality of points of view and show that there are many ways to be a girl,” says the author of Tuck in your stomach and smile and its sequel, novels which deal in particular with body image on social networks.
Léa Olivier and stereotypes
“I believe that there is a way not to be cliché, even if we have a literature that is more gendered”, also believes the author Catherine Girard-Audet.
From 90 to 95% of the readership of his popular series La vie complicated by Léa Olivier are girls. However, there is no question of its creator falling into stereotypes. “Lea’s not just thinking about her appearance. She’s not just trying to find a good husband. I’m a feminist at heart, so for me that’s important. […] All of my female characters have vastly different personalities. There is one who does not want a boyfriend. There is one that is pansexual. “
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Catherine Girard-Audet
I try to have a variety of female characters so that any girl who is going to read my books can relate to my series.
Catherine Girard-Audet, author of The complicated life of Léa Olivier
“It is not because we want the book to be without stereotypes that we do not have a target audience”, agrees Claudie Mailhot-Trottier, head of the Kaleidoscope project. Propelled by the YWCA Quebec, this initiative draws up a list of children’s books that break down stereotypes, as much with regard to gender diversity as to bodily or cultural diversity.
“It’s super interesting to have books that are aimed more at young girls, for example, and that encourage them to do activities. […] which are more associated with the masculine gender, ”she continues.
On the cover
Catherine Girard-Audet admits, however, that the covers of the novels in her series, which turns 10 in 2022, do not attract boys. “A blonde girl on the cover, the colors pop, it’s gendered, I don’t deny it”, says the one who also writes annually Girls’ ABC since 2013.
With its bright colors and the presence of three heroines, the covers of the CSI Ruelle series, by Audrée Archambault, will also catch the eye of girls. “It was intended,” explains the author. Not because I don’t want the boys to read the book. On the contrary. “
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Audree Archambault
I want girls to have other role models in the literature than the more stereotypical models. That they have access to courageous and adventurous girls, who love the action, who are not afraid to get dirty.
Audrée Archambault, author
Moreover, the adventures of CSI Ruelle can appeal to both girls and boys, says the author. “We have the impression that it is intended for a female audience, because there are three girls. But when you read the story, there is nothing stereotypical about it. Honestly, we could rename my characters with male first names and change their look, the story would remain exactly the same, ”believes Audrée Archambault.
His most recent novel, Elealix, also offers a gender-neutral cover, on which the main characters appear in small. “For the whole team, it went without saying that it was a cover like that, because it is not a novel which is aimed specifically at boys or girls”, indicates the author, who also writes the series. policewoman Sarah-Lou, (very) private detective.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHING HOUSE
Elealix, by Audrée Archambault
Despite the authors’ efforts, Sarah Bertrand-Savard, lecturer in literature at the University of Sherbrooke, believes that more diversity is needed in children’s literature. “Reading is a real means that allows openness to oneself and to the world; it is therefore necessary to vary the characters and the stories from the point of view of cultural, family, bodily identity and gender and sex identity, among others, ”she emphasizes.
And in schools?
A fifth-secondary French teacher at École Mitchell-Montcalm in Sherbrooke, Marie-Dominique Billequey believes that adolescents want to have access to literature that sets aside stereotypes. “Cycle two students would be delighted to meet characters that are not one-dimensional or two-dimensional. He’s a kaleidoscope, a human. I think they would adhere much better [aux lectures obligatoires] if the characters reflected a little more their internal struggles, ”she says. However, in schools, the books studied are often over 30 years old, says the teacher. “Children’s literature, and even adult literature accessible to young people, is truly made elsewhere. What luck ! The problem is that the pupils do not have access to this literature. [à l’école] », She laments.