Treatment of Gender in Adolescent Fantasy Literature: An Analysis of J.K. Rowling and Robin McKinley

Authors

Amberly Draper, Brigham Young University
Dr. Joyce Nelson, Brigham Young University

Keywords

gender, adolescent fantasy literature, J. K. Rowling, Robin McKinley

College

Humanities

Department

English

Abstract

Gender portrayal is a topic at the forefront of literacy studies; current research seems to indicate that both boys and girls have been negatively affected by exposure to inequitable portrayals of gender in adolescent literature. My research has focused on two popular fantasy fiction writers in an attempt to show examples of young adult literature depicting positive and enabling gender roles and characteristics, portrayals which I think are capable of helping girls and boys. This report will relate some of the history of gender based literary analysis, give an overview of the works of Rowling and McKinley, and then give some of my conclusions as to the value of the texts I studied.

Recommended Citation

Draper, Amberly and Nelson, Dr. Joyce (2014) "Treatment of Gender in Adolescent Fantasy Literature: An Analysis of J.K. Rowling and Robin McKinley," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 613.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/613