When I first signed up for EDU 623: Critical Literacy Trends and Issues, I wasn't sure what to expect. I assumed we would be looking closely at children's literature, but after our first class meeting, I realized critical literacy encompassed so much more than books. There is content all around us that needs to be scrutinized and questioned.
For instance, the toys our children play with and the clothes they wear. From the earliest age (even in the womb) girls and boys are being told what they should like and how to act. As a soon to be mother, this is something that I am becoming familiar with as I browse the aisles looking at the latest toys. I realize not knowing the sex of my baby helps me from falling into the trap of buying things specifically for girls or boys. It's is easy to get caught up in all of the pink ruffles that the little girls dresses have, or the sporty blue clothes that they make for boys. But do I really want to start conditioning my baby from the start that girls are meant to be dainty and boys can be rough? No, and fortunately there is a selection (albeit small) of gender neutral items available.
I feel this class will be instrumental in helping me develop a critical eye of the content our children are exposed to and help me become a better parent/teacher of my child.
1 comment:
Being a mom of a young child I very much appreciate the notions you raise regarding the role of critical literacy as a position that could be influential in raising your child. I'm excited to read and hear about how your thinking shifts and turns from the perspective of being a mom. You already have some wonderful insights.
vivian
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