Well, it looks like my daughter has also fallen in love with the books. She loves the adventures of the Seven and the Five! Every day she asks me to read "one more chapter" and the books have become the ultimate bargaining tool - eg:
Me: "Please turn off the TV, you've watched enough TV today."
Dear Daughter: "Okay, but you have to read me one more chapter of the Secret Seven/Famous Five!"
You know, I love that she's so enthusiastic about these books and at first I was really looking forward to rereading them...but reading them with adult eyes, I've become aware of how sexist, classist and racist these books are! Some examples just using the Famous Five series:
George (who doesn't want to be a girl), "flushed with pride" when her father tells her "Why you'd make a great boy!" (the ultimate of compliments).
"Now that we have money, you can go to a real school!" George's mother exclaims referring to the fact that George will now leave the village school to attend boarding school with Anne.
"she was as black as a nigger"...referring to George being dirty.
Okay, so yes, I admit that I had gotten the older versions of the books (the result of still buying all my books second hand) and all the Enid Blyton books that I have were published in the early to mid 50s. I now know that latter versions of the books have been changed to soften its sexist/classist/racist tones.
Having said that, I still have to say that the stories really do appeal to my daughter and I don't have the heart to take them away from her (especially as she doesn't like most books). My first instinct when I read them out to her was to "censor" my reading and just omit or replace phrases/paragraphs. And I have to admit, for the more blatent ones (I could not bring myself to say "nigger"), I still do.
However, in the latest book we're reading, I am now trying to use these sexist/classist/racist incidents as conversation points afterwards - trying to explain the historical attitudes and asking her opinion on these. See, I've realised that part of media literacy is to be able to read critically. To be able to do that, my children *need* to discuss books in greater depth. Me censoring these books completely was not allowing them to have these conversations. And with Enid Blyton books being so obviously sexist/classist/racist its been a great jumping off point in critical reading rather than the more subtle books.
I have been surprised how much my daughter (6 and a half years old) has been able to deconstruct the messages by herself once we started talking about it. She talks about how silly George is in thinking that only boys are brave. How "bossy" Peter is and that maybe its because he didn't know Janet (his sister) could be as clever as him if only the writer had written about that.
Anyway, so that's my take and that's how I'm approaching it at the moment. Have you ever re-read books from your childhood and been surprised at the messages that "you never got" when you were younger?
Oh and in the spirit of "balance" does anyone have any recommendations for adventure books with strong, clever girls who were happy to be girls?
28 comments:
I found the same when I re-read all my Anne of Green Gables books, especially the two volumes of Avonlea chronicles. As far as adventure books I really loved Trixie Belden books when I was a yong girl from about 8 to 12. Although I've not read one lately and perhaps the same thing would happen if I read them again today! What about Nancy Drew books - there are probably some newer, modern books esp since the movie came out a few years back? Cheers, Kat
On adulthood changing one's enjoyment: oh dear yes. I loved Biggles as a kid. Still do, but it dunnarf make one cringe nowadays. (Not least for the writing style, but that's another issue :)
As for heroines - Pippi Longstocking, maybe? Moomin stories? Moominmamma and the other female characters stick in the mind more than a little. And Moominpappa is a wondrously moving male character - gentle, vulnerable etc.
I always loved Mary from the Secret Garden because she was so realistic - bad-tempered, intolerant, but ultimately persistent and willing/able to help others. As girly as girls get, but strong and independent. (May have some cultural baggage to explain with that one though; Empire, attitudes, etc).
George is a funny one, though... she was one of my favourite book characters ever - not because she *wanted* to be a boy, but because she managed to be what I suppose one is supposed to be call boyish... brave and resourceful in ways that Anne (who's a bit of a dead loss really :) never is. I suppose I've grown to think of that "tomboy" thing as a cover for her being able to be herself - which *is* someone just as good as the boys. Dick and Julian are often...well, dismissable, really (fault of milieu?), so George was always the hero of the Famous Five stories to me - she was the one I wanted to be when I grew up, precisely because she seemed to be better than either boy or girl alone :)
Gemma James adventure series, Molly Moon are two good ones that come to mind.
I loved Enid Blyton so much when I was a tween, didn't pick up all those sexist racist or classist references at all. The Faraway Tree was great for the imagination.
My just-turned-10yo has been LOVING the Famous Five books, and I don't find them as obnoxious as some books. The Rainbow Fairy and Go Girl series made me nauseous...
As a family, we really enjoyed reading the Little House on the Prairie series out loud. It's sexist and racist but SO distant to our experiences that it's easier for us to identify and discuss. We also really enjoyed reading about making things from scratch.
I found the same thing reading Enid Blyton with my daughter. The Lily Quench books are a great series with a strong female character. Also Lucy Willow by Sally Gardner, and her magical children books as well.
Yes, I agree, it's a bit disheartening to reread them, but then again, I do exactly as you've been doing and use some things as discussion points. It would be unfortunate to "ban" classics from being read, simply on those grounds...they have to be taken in historical context, and (mostly) those references tend to be a small part of the story as a whole.
It's the same thing with "old" movies...but doesn't really mean we shouldn't watch them, but rather watch them with different eyes, appreciating them for the things that made them great, even in their era, which certainly didn't have much to do with the disturbing bits.
This was always the fun in English classes in uni---all the discussion and "backstory" that set the stories in their respective time periods and which philosophies were current at the time and what was happening in the world (socially, politically)...It always made the stories make so much more sense and allowed the stories to be enjoyed "intellectually", without necessarily agreeing with everything said.
However, it's a fine line between bringing up discussion on those points and having repeated exposure to ONLY those older trains of thoughts, which sort of counteracts the discussion, really. Either the kid learns to despise the stories just because the author clearly thought strange things at the time, or they end up believing the stuff, just because they see it so often. :) Always good to have a nice range.
I found the same thing when my girls and I reread some of the Doctor Doolittle stories, which I adored when I was a kid. We balanced out by reading stories that showed peoples who figured in a "spoofed" fashion in Dr. Doolittle, now in traditional folk tales or modern stories in a much different, respected light.
By the same token, not being religious, per se, many of the classics I enjoyed as a kid have very religious overtones, and we approach those stories with the same philosophy.
I've only reread one Pippi book so far, but it was fabulous. Also the Katie and Nan stories (admittedly, I've only read "Katie and Nan Go to Sea") were funny and the girls were spunky...author Nan Inger. We're currently reading "Owls in the Family" by Farley Mowat, and though girls (so far) don't really figure at all, there hasn't really been any reference to anything sexist...just good fun on the prairie with wild animals. I haven't reread "The Secret Garden", but I loved that as a kid, too.
And I agree with Apprentice Domestic Goddess, books like the Rainbow Fairy series, etc. are yucky. (Poorly written, for one thing.) And books that are just too in-your-face "girls are great and powerful and can do better than boys" are really smacking us in the face and defeating the purpose. It's one thing to teach individuality and independence and courage and thinking for oneself...it's another thing to do it at the expense of others, or to be as subtle as a bull in a china shop. Good writing always wins out in the end. :)
Yipes, what a long (and poorly written) opinion, but I wanted to say that I understand your feelings, as I feel it myself...but I do love to introduce my kids to the same books I loved.
Oh, Charlotte's Web is great. And don't forget Mary Poppins...she puts EVERYONE in their place. :)
In my rarely-humble opinion, you are doing the right thing. I don't think it's fair to censor the books--especially if your daughter loves them so much. I also think it would be wrong to just gloss over the racism and sexism. I think reading the books is a great way to open up such important discussions.
Believe it or not I got this when I read "The Little Engine that Could" not long ago. It makes me laugh also to go back and reread some of the little golden books that were for more non-fiction, like dinosaurs or there's one where the dad takes the daughter to the zoo and all the drawings are of the animals locked up in tiny little barred cages. I used to enjoy those books. Whoa!
I must say that it is refreshing to find someone like you who doesn't attempt to censor your children. Doing such things dramatically raises the curosity level and they will find a way to get at the censored items one way or another. At least you're there to guide her and make her think critically. I try to do the same thing with my kids and am discouraged when I run across someone in the blogs that refuses to open the world to their children.
DW Golden
Soar with Fairies in a new young adult novel: Purple Butterflies
Good suggestions here. I loved The Secret Garden and Little House on the Prairie Books (also Beatrix Potter's stories; The Wind in the Willows; plus I was also horse-crazy so all the Black Stallion books, Misty of Chincoteage, and Black Beauty, but haven't re-read them as an adult). When I was about 11, I read Robert Heinlein's Have Spacesuit Will Travel, and Podkayne from Mars, and was thrilled to discover a writer that featured strong, intelligent girl characters (however, some of his stories are written for an older audience, so I'd advise vetting them yourself first).
I absolutely adored the Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent Dyer when I was younger, as well as the Dimsie books (I think they're by Elsie someone, but the full name escapes my memory right now). Unfortunately, these books are mostly out of print, although you do get a lot of Chalet School books in second hand shops. Yes, they're dated and there is a certain amount of classist stuff in them (it's written about the girls in a boarding school in Austria, so somewhat to be expected, I suppose!) and a sometimes sickly sweet amount of 'doing the right thing' which you get in all the books from that period (they were written from 1925 until 1960 something). However, I did pick up small amounts of French and German from them, as well as bits of history (especially about the second world war) and geography! I would make sure I had the whole set now if I had daughters, but I have two sons, and I don't think I'd get them interested in those books - more interested in Horrid Henry!
I've noticed it not only books, but also with tv shows that I watched as I kid. I watch an episode of I Dream of Jeannie last year and was horrified that my kids were also watching, but I didn't pick up on a thing as a child.
I am also reading some Enid Blyton to our kids and have noticed things I'm not too keen on.
I had a great time watching Gone with the Wind with my 6yo. There was so much to discuss!
Matilda by Roald Dahl makes us laugh here E, as do most of the Dahl books. Ramona books were a favourite of mine as a kid, as were Dorrie the witch. I still love Secret 7 and Famous 5, and this fuelled my love for mystery books. Nancy Drew led to Agatha Christie - the epitomy of sexism and classism!
My mum never let me read Enid Blyton as a child. She never explained her reasoning to me and so, I read alot of Secret 7 and Famous 5 in secret. Thinking back with my critical adult's mind, I agree with your conclusions Eileen but I did really enjoy them at the time. I wish my mum had taken the same approach and explained the reasons why she didn't like Enid Blyton to me.
My daughter (also 6.5) and I have just read Matilda and now we are working our way through the Oz series by L. Frank Baum. Dorothy is a wonderful character as are the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Woodman, etc.
Cheers, Mel
I found a copy of Ginger Meggs, and looked forward to introducing my grandsons to this Aussie classic. Ouch - blantant sexism, glorified violent reactions, and justifying it by "being Men, women don't know abou that" and so on. I did censor, and refused to finish reading it - fortunately they were too young to know what I did - plenty of other stories to read e.g. Winnie the Pooh.
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and recommendations! I have written them all down and will keep an eye on those books at the 2nd hand bookshops.
I have enjoyed reading your thoughts and experiences - thank you for taking the time to share them with me!
Nim's Island/Nim at Sea?
I completely agree with the need to help young kids (especially girls!) deconstruct texts from an early age. I love that your daughter is saying things like that. :)
PS: It's so funny you posted this just now as in my Year 4 class an Enid Blyton craze has started and I wanted to address these things...!
Trixie Belden, Meg books, anne of green gables (i think it is the 50th year since release this year)
My parents wouldn't allow Enid Blyton books in our house - so of course we smuggled them in. Even then Anne annoyed me and we all wanted to be George. I still avoid them a bit but my taste always ran to historical and slightly fantastical books. For feisty heroines I always liked Joan Aiken - books like the Wolves of Willoughby Chase, and Nightbirds in Nantucket. It didn't seem to matter whether the children in the books were boys or girls, they were just really good adventurous stories.
Hi there, Funny to read your post as DS7 and I just had a conversation this morning about how the Famous Five we are currently reading together was written a looong time ago (before his nanna was born!) and that things are a little bit different in the world now - so he better not go getting any ideas about running away and going camping by himself. I like your idea to use the objectionable parts as conversation points rather than just ignoring them. They are otherwise such lovely stories.
I used to love famous five and while I remember being peturbed at the sexism I actually really liked the empowerment to kids on the whole, they were out there as a team fighting crime and having adventures. Especially as an only child I loved the 'gang' aspect of Enids books! I would also keep an eye out for the loiness rampent seris by tamora pierce, they are great, its about twins who swap places, she pretends shes a boy to train to be a knight. Also I think Isobelle Carmodys Obernyten series is a must for all girls but its a bit more hefty and she is still writing it. Oh and defentiently to not go past Monica Furlongs wise child and the prequel a year and a day where a young witch weaves her own protective shawl only to be to tired to fix a dropped stich which later is her downfall, excellent morals! I have picked all these up around various op shops, good luck!
Books always reflect things that were on vogue at the time of writing them. So, wasn't Blyton just using what was the practice when she wrote ``nigger''. Of course, things are not the same now. But, then censoring such discriminatory usage just because they are not politically correct now is like wanting to re-write history according to our (each and everyone's) whims and fancies.
What should be done is to explain the practise of today to the children rather than deleting.!
I used to love reading Enid Blyton but it always annoyed me that the girls were left out of all the adventures, which is why I loved George.
If you want a girl heroine, try Nancy Drew- the OLD one, the new version of her is basically a Barbie doll. But I suppose they are a little old for a 6 year old.
Hmmm try Tracey Beaker, shes fiesty and a good read :) x
I know this post is an old one now, but I found it following a lengthy conversation on the topic of censoring tv and literature when we found I couldn't buy him the original Reggie Perrin series on DVD in its entirity.
I loved Famous Five: but I was also a girl guide, and knew the history of Baden-Powell (and Olive BP). Poor Enid: she was only trying to keep the kids busy for a couple of hours, if only she could have forseen this!
Harriet the Spy was a series I loved as a kid, and I don't remember her being oppressed. The Judy Blume stories have probably aged reasonably well too.
Opps sorry - conversation with my husband (age 42 and well capable of critical analysis).
I'm curious as to whether we feel the same way about even older books: Children of the New Forest had the female homemaker down pat while the boys hunted: and lets think about Little Women or David Copperfield. At what point does a work become literature and therefore the 'objectionable material' to be 'understandable'?
I enjoyed your comments on using sexist / racist incidents as conversation points. I have been reading Enid Blyton to my four year old daughter, and using it in the same way - and I have found it useful, particularly as she has become very race-sensitive this year. I don't think we should shield our kids from bad attitudes; it is usually better to expose them for what they are, in an age-appropriate way.
Stumbled across this post while looking up Enid Blyton, and I agree with your approach. Blyton's books are a product of her time and to censor them is to ignore history when you can really learn from it.
My favourite as a kid was the Adventure Series but I remember this scene from the Mountain of Adventure, where someone (Lucy-Ann I think) meets an African-American guy hiding in a tree and runs away screaming "Black! Black! Black!"
i know this isnt the right post but she wrote bull)*^$ i mean in the adventure series when the boy sees his friend he says: Hallo...what is this seriously is it sposed to be halliluya (D:<)
I loved the Enid Blyton books when I was a little girl, too (in the early 1960s). Your current process of using the books to discuss racism, sexism, elitism, etc. with your daughter is one I used with my sons who are now adults. When they were little, a set of children's books was included with a set of regular encyclopedias we bought. The children's set was just pervasively sexist, and I would make comments casually as I read. For instance, the father would always do "men's work (or else sit and smoke his pipe while his wife brought him his slippers--that sort of thing) while the mother cooked. I would point out that my kids' daddy was a good cook and that women could work on cars, etc. I would explain that people's views and expectations changed with the times, and even though they were little, they got it. They're very non-sexist adults now.
Post a Comment