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Thesis
Empowering Narratives: Understanding Consent, Personal Boundaries and Body Autonomy in Children's Literature
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
05/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006497
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a concerning issue affecting a significant portion of youth in the United States, with underreporting contributing to underestimated rates. Education about consent emerges as a crucial tool in empowering children to recognize and report inappropriate behavior. However, existing literature predominantly focuses on adult sexual consent, necessitating a clearer understanding of consent for children. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of children's books focusing on consent and prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA), exploring their approaches in addressing sensitive topics for young readers. A sample of 100 books was coded, revealing distinct trends between consent-focused and CSA-prevention literature. The analysis uncovers nuanced portrayals of adults as protectors or potential perpetrators and highlights the diverse representation of potential perpetrator characteristics. Additionally, the responsibility placed on children to establish boundaries raises questions about practicality and age-appropriateness. The study reveals linguistic disparities, especially regarding anatomical terminology and boundary depiction, indicating the need for further exploration into their impact on children's comprehension. Findings underscore the need for comprehensive research to understand the effects of differing approaches in children's literature on young readers' perceptions and behaviors regarding consent and personal boundaries. These insights offer valuable guidance for developing more effective educational resources for children on sensitive topics.
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Details
- Title
- Empowering Narratives
- Creators
- Opeyemi Victoria Johnson
- Contributors
- Stacey J.T Hust (Chair)Erica W Austin (Committee Member)Jessica Willoughby (Committee Member) - Washington State University
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 75
- Identifiers
- 99901117941301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis