«Vi er sjukt mye sterkere om vi står sammen»: En analyse av kjønn og kritisk literacy i Jenteloven

Abstract

This master’s thesis has examined how representation of gender can contribute to promote critical literacy in the nonfiction book Jenteloven. Feministisk førstehjelp (2018). The aim of this study was to examine whether the book opens up to or opposes critical literacy. The thesis is based on the following research question: How can representations of gender and gender expectation help to promote critical literacy in Jenteloven? The thesis theoretical framework is based on nonfiction theory, gender theory and critical literacy theory. The research question was answered by a self-developed nonfiction analysis based on the theory chapter. In the analysis I examined tendencies in gender representations in the peritexts, the verbal text and in the illustrations. In addition to investigating Jenteloven’s potential to promote critical literacy. The aim of the final discussion was to examine which potential Jenteloven may have to promote critical literacy. The main findings of the thesis showed that the book both opens up for and opposes critical literacy. By launching various answer alternatives, tips and exercises, the book opens up for the female-reader to make opinions about the subject material. However, boys are mainly portrayed indirectly through «girl problems». The book addresses boys in a rather harsh way, which means that boys are presented unilaterally and given less room to stand up for themselves. The authoritative and direct language may lead the reader to adopt the authors’ perspective which may result in the text opposing rather than opening up for dialogue between text and reader, especially towards potential male-readers. This affects the readers ability to ask questions to nonfiction literature. The text would therefore benefit from being more open and welcoming of discussion towards the reader, as well as having a more balanced representation of genders in order to promote critical literacy to a greater extent.