To think all female children’s authors should write books with girls in

[Bigmango]

I find it so depressing how many children’s books feature only boys or at least boys in the main role. I recently read a book about pirates to my daughter where every one of the four main characters was a boy (for absolutely no reason - it would have made no difference to the storyline if one or more were girls). I was then shocked to realise the author was a woman. As a female children’s author, wouldn’t you see it as your job to try and redress the balance a bit?

but Nancy doesn't behave like a girl, Susan does That's a very restrictive view of what a girl is - a girl is someone who behaves like Susan not someone who behaves like Nancy.

As a girl who had a train set, a chemistry set and a umpteen Dinky and Matchbox cars, it was good to see in S&A a range of "girls behaviours".

'How about authors are free to write about what they want and us to read what we choose'

I hope people in power choosing C level execs, representation on TV etc don't have the 'let me be free to do what I want attitude'

I absolutely can't believe people can't see that female representation isn't important in books.

I've just chosen my top ten favourite booksseries I've read to my children (2 DSs and DD) for a thing on Facebook. It's about 50/50:

The Melendy Quartet - Elizabeth Enright (2 boys, 2 girls)
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (girl)
Nevermoor - Jessica Townsend (girl)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler - E.L. Konigsberg (girl and boy)
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen - Alan Garner (girl and boy)
Wonder - R.J. Palacio (boy)
The Indian in the Cupboard - Lynne Reid Banks (boy)
Midnight for Charlie Bone - Jenny Nimmo (boy)
The Wheel on the School - Meinert DeJong (girl)
The Good Thieves - Katherine Rundell (girl)
Podkin One-Ear - Keiran Larwood (boy rabbit)

@GruntBaby
Ds has loved the Lone Pine and enjoyed playing Dickie in a production this summer, and he's currently reading the Simon Baines as they are re-released by GGBP. I'm very much looking forward to the last one as I've never seen it.
Lone Pine have been his favourite series out of all those he's read.
I agree about the younger stories. I wasn't quite sure about the Susan, Bill stories whether it was because they're younger or the lack of a location which gives the authenticity to the other stories was missing.

@GruntBaby oh we’re all just as mad. We just don’t make a living out of it.

Take umbridge with the Publishers OP!!

Plenty are written but they only publish what will sell.

That doesn’t seem to be what the authors on here are saying actually.

I think you're right. Male authors arent great at writing girls - from the odd to the downright creepy. It's down to female authors to ensure a genuine representation of the female experience for our daughters.

No but there needs to be more variety in the male and female characters eg girls can be the star of an adventure book while boys can star in a magical story without a weapon like a sword.

Nope, never noticed this at all.

YABU.

I can't believe people are saying YABU. The bias in favour of male main characters is totally obvious, as is the fact that girls have happily read books where the main character is a boy, but boys don't tend to read books where the main character is a boy.

One of my favourite children's authors, Diana Wynne Jones, spoke about this problem in some of her talks/articles about being a children's author. If I my priority were to write a profitable kids' book, I'd choose to write about a male main character. As it happens, I am trying to write my first kids' book, but my main character is female, because... well, that's who she was when she came into my head!

There should be more books with female main characters. And honestly, I thik there is more now. Not equal but getting there.

Saying that women should have to write about girls or women, is ridiculous.

Just gonna leave this here...
www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/13/highly-concerning-picture-books-bias-worsens-as-female-characters-stay-silentAnd

@Hesafriendfromwork why is it ridiculous? If men aren’t going to do it, who else is?

why is it ridiculous? If men aren’t going to do it, who else is?

Telling women they must only write about women, is the opposite of feminism.

You cant force someone whose job is creative to only be creative in ways you find acceptable.

Bigmango - that link isn't working.

Wow, I am completely gobsmacked at the majority of responses here, and how aggressive some people are being! I thought it was completely obvious to anyone with children what a massive imbalance it is between sexes. We're still in the picture book phase, and it's a massive challenge to find books that feature female characters who aren't witches or princesses (or mums). How are children supposed to grow up viewing the sexes as equal if they only ever see females in the same few limited roles?

Whenever I find a good story with a female main character I buy it for all the birthdays, boys' too (both my children are boys).

OP I think we've got the same pirate book and it really pisses me off. I do change some of them to girls when I have to read it, like with lots of other stories, but I shouldn't have to. And female authors shouldn't be compelled to write female characters, but it baffles me that more of them don't.

And to those who say it doesn’t happen, or only bad authors do it..err...Harry Potter?

..err..Anyone who has read the Harry Potter books knows that Harry wouldn't have survived a week if it hadn't been for Hermione, who is actually female

Perhaps the female author had sons and was basing it on them.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/13/highly-concerning-picture-books-bias-worsens-as-female-characters-stay-silent

@Pollywollydolly the series is called “Harry Potter and the...”. Yeah Harry wouldn’t have survived without Hermione (or Ron, or Hagrid, or Dumbledor etc) but it’s about visible representation. The main protagonist of Harry Potter is obviously Harry Potter. Women have always had great supporting roles- in and out of literature.

@pigsknickers yes we are still in picture book stage. Maybe it’s more obvious here? As a side note, have you tried to read the Large family books in a fit of nostalgia and realise that they have aged really badly?

No and of course I don’t believe female authors should have to write only female characters. I just think if you’ve got an opportunity to change the dominant theories just a little (eg pirates are boys) why not do it?

I write boys because I have 4 boys and don't have to go to people to find out what girls do!!! Maybe it's thst? Or they're written by male authors who are drawing on their own experiences or don't want to get it wrong? I don't like the comments about precious boys not wanting to see girls as leads, it could just be in our circles but I find young boys don't mind a female lead (Hunger Games is one that springs to mind), and actu ally you ask my kids who their favourite characters are (I'm thinking movies here), they'll split it between boys and girls (Black Widow is in top three characters, Captain Marvel is two of their favourite movie). So this could 've an adult thing (or a non issue-maybe it just happens to be the mix in your library)

This is definitely true of picture books. I too change the characters to female when reading them but my 4yo is learning to read now so will soon discover the truth! She is learning a good level of critical analysis though as we talk through why some of the more traditional stories might be problematic (we don't marry people who hide in bushes and then grab us, (Disney version of) sleeping beauty )