Stereotypes In Childrens Storybooks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Stereotypes In Childrens Storybooks - Essay Example It has been a practice that children’s book have portrayed people with disability in a negative manner. Some of these stereotypes assert that people with disability are pathetic and pitiable. In this sense, this image is widely written in children’s book, which in turn makes children develop a negative mind about disabled people. In addition, stereotypes of disability in children’s literature or book have portrayed people with disability as objects of aggression or violence. For instance, since handicapped people are not able to defend themselves, they are depicted as good victims or ploys of crime (Stuart 2006, 51). Further, disabled people such as the blind are depicted as evil or sinister. This stereotype is the most rampant stretching from fairy tales to stories of how blind people lost their sight because of sin or sinful behaviors. In turn, it leaves a negative impression that disabled people are sinful and therefore, they should not be associated. Addition ally, children's book creates an impression that people with disability should be used as atmosphere by describing them as undeveloped characters. It has been a common phenomenon that children storybooks depict disable people as â€Å"super crip† in that for them to be accepted in both society and children’s storybooks, they are placed in situations of being over-achievers (Baumeister & Bushman 2010, 41). Therefore, persons with disability are thought to be bestowed with super powers such as paraplegic detective. Children’s storybooks have depicted persons with disability as laughable. In the same manner, there exist ethnic jokes in children’s books. Children’s books make frequent or regular use of such jokes as gimmick to enhance and facilitate the plot of the book. For instance, a blind person or a visually impaired person becomes the suitable object for many jokes (Judd & Park 1993, 109-111). This shows an insensitive and unreasonable depiction of persons with