THE ROLE OF CHILDREN LITERATURE IN THE EMERGENCE AND PERPETUATION OF GENDER STEREOTYPES

Gender stereotypes represent an important part of the social representations that affect people's lives and their everyday activities. Young girls and boys learn early in their lives the appropriate way to behave. They have many examples of what a girl or a boy should be like, starting with their families, teachers and friends. A favourite way to learn remanis however children's literature. While listening to children's stories, they also learn how to behave, what is appropriate and what is not. This paper aims to hightlight the significant role of chilidren's literature in the emergence and perpetuation of these social representations, emphasizing the importance of a balanced gender education in children's evolution and their becoming the best version of theirselves.