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Cultural Narratives of Reproduction in Children's Literature: A Health Education Focused Content Analysis

Krajny, Shelly Marie
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1649339401601177

Abstract Details

2022, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences.
The purpose of this study was to examine cultural narratives of human reproduction in children’s literature. The research was conducted in two parts. The first was a content analysis of children’s picture books to determine what cultural narratives about reproduction are included within these stories. Additionally, a checklist adapted from Symons and Manna (1992) was utilized to facilitate an evaluation of the sex-positive and health-positive nature of these stories. Questions from the checklist were formatted into a 5-point Likert scale (0-4) to assess the quality of the books as educational teaching tools. The study found that five main reproductive narratives are told within contemporary children’s picture books: the prevailing narrative, the traditional narrative, the non-traditional narrative, the least common narrative, and the absent / invisible narrative. The issue with many books in the study does not stem from the fact that they encourage reproduction. Rather, the concern is the lack of rational explanation or justification for engaging in the behavior. In addition to the narratives, many children’s books about reproduction are written by unqualified authors and can present messages that are both sex and health negative. The books are marketed as educational literature on reproduction, yet many of the books fail to teach about reproduction at the basic level. Future research can use the results of this study to examine the unintended consequences of projecting a false narrative of reproduction.
Laurie Wagner (Committee Chair)
Kathleen Walker (Committee Member)
Irene Axiotis (Committee Member)
176 p.
Health Education
children's literature; reproduction; cultural narratives; content analysis; health education;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Krajny, S. M. (2022). Cultural Narratives of Reproduction in Children's Literature: A Health Education Focused Content Analysis [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1649339401601177

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Krajny, Shelly. Cultural Narratives of Reproduction in Children's Literature: A Health Education Focused Content Analysis . 2022. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1649339401601177.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Krajny, Shelly. "Cultural Narratives of Reproduction in Children's Literature: A Health Education Focused Content Analysis ." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1649339401601177

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1649339401601177
401
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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.