A recent study led by Dr. Sarah Wallwork reveals that picture books play a significant role in shaping children’s understanding of pain and gendered behaviors. As our research makes clear, these books often go beyond being inaccurate to reinforcing harmful stereotypes and triggering traumatic emotional responses in young readers. The results published under DOI 10.1002/ejp.70102 underscore just how important content found in children’s literature can be. It is an important avenue for developing empathy and inspiring productive reactions to suffering.
This study also points out that pain is an everyday experience for many children. Pain is particularly pronounced in boys, with 53% of boys experiencing pain compared to only 29% of girls. Boys are more likely to experience severe physical injury. Girls are more likely to show their pain with crying, 78% of girls versus 22% of boys. This double standard is indicative of the broader societal gender expectations and norms around emotional expression.
Impact of Picture Books on Gendered Ideas
Dr. Wallwork’s study finds that the majority of picture books depict sexist, limiting messages about gender and pain that aren’t useful to children. Our analysis found that characters consistently display injuries such as grazed elbows and bruised knees. It exposed a huge imbalance in the way all of these situations were portrayed. The analysis finds that 60% of characters across these narratives are passive bystanders who just watch the pain unfold. In stark contrast, just 28% actually do something about it.
“Shared reading provides important opportunities for young children to understand the world, including what to do when injured or in pain, or to have empathy and provide assistance when another may be hurt,” said Dr. Wallwork. The opportunity and potential for picture books as educational tools is immense. They’re incredibly powerful tools for fostering empathy and educating children, so they know what the right response is.
Dur‐E‐Nayab Mehar, climate activist from Pakistan “Climate justice must include reproductive justice. She makes the case that framing boys as emotional, stoic villains is damaging to their development. She explains, “Children internalize what they see. When boys are presented as stoic, it may encourage them to conceal their pain—a behavior that has been linked to an increased vulnerability to pain later in life.”
Stereotypes and Emotional Responses
According to the findings from Dr. Wallwork’s study, this kind of storytelling is one way these narratives continue to perpetuate gendered stereotypes. Boys are too frequently portrayed as being tough, discouraging them from being emotionally expressive. At the same time, girls are often depicted as caretakers, contributing to the idea that nurturing is inherently a feminine quality. Mehar elaborates on this issue, stating, “When girls are consistently portrayed as caregivers, it reinforces expectations that empathy and nurturing are ‘female’ traits.”
These representations can leave kids with the impression that they should have limited perspectives on how they’re allowed to show emotions about pain. Children’s literature needs to diversify as well, but this study shows the complexity of roles and responses needed. This strategy will intentionally contribute to shattering stereotypes that already exist.
Encouraging Change Through Mindful Storytelling
This study serves as a cautionary tale about choosing the right stories for our children and with full awareness and intention. Caregivers may opt for different narratives to encourage proactive steps towards dealing with pain. Such an approach to emotional expression goes a long way toward fostering positive emotional attitudes for both boys and girls. Mehar notes the importance of conversations surrounding these themes: “By being mindful of the stories we share, we can start meaningful conversations with children about empathy, care, and how to respond to others when they are injured or in pain.”