Barnböcker ur ett genusperspektiv : En text och bildanalys av de böcker som högläses för elever i årskurs F-3

Sammanfattning: This study was conducted with the aim to make gender representation visible in books that are being read-aloud to pupils in the grades 0-3. The study was based on two questions: “What does the representation of gender look like in the books that are being read aloud to the pupils?” and “What does the figuration of the books' characters look like from a gender perspective?”. Initially, the importance of equality according to the different national policy documents was presented. Swedish schools have a mission, according to the curriculum, to achieve equality. This is necessary because research showed that children were affected by gender norms and made choices based on them. Therefore, several authors meant that teachers should be making conscious book choices, where they choose norm-critical books. According to the curriculum, children should face different kinds of stories in school that give them new knowledge and insight. The read-aloud book that the teacher chooses could be used as a tool for opening discussions about gender. The method for collecting data went in several steps. First, several libraries across the country were asked to send their statistics of the most borrowed children's literature in the age gap of 6-9 or 9-12. The statistics then were compiled into one list of the 18 most popular children´s books. A survey was then conducted with the compiled list of books, and it was sent out into two Facebook groups, for teachers to answer. The teachers answered the question if they have or are planning to read this book with their pupils. The five most popular books were then analysed with the help of our own constructed analysis-tool, and the method for analysing was qualitative text analysis and semiotic picture analysis. This study's theoretical framework was Hirdman´s (1988; 2003) theory of gender system, gender contract and three different formulas to express gender stereotypes, Harding´s (1986) theory of symbolic and structural gender and Nikolajeva´s (2017) scheme of stereotypical attributes. The result showed that the representation of gender was rather equal between the two sexes. The characters' portrayal on the other hand went mostly in line with the stereotypes for their gender, with some exceptions. Female characters were mostly portrayed as caring and passive, with makeup and long eyelashes. Male characters on the other hand were mostly portrayed as active and brave.Finally, further research should be made where the impact of fiction on young children is analysed, and there is also a need for further research on Swedish children's books from a gender perspective. Further research could also be made where booktalks after a read-aloud session are used to open discussions about gender.