Reflection One for Pink is for Boys

Analysis Summary

We believe that this text could be considered problematic to someone because the author’s target audience is specifically boys and girls, but doesn’t include other gender identities that young kids may go by such as transgender, gender neutral, gender fluid, etc. On the last page, the author does include the term “everyone”; however, 90% of the book is targeted at only boys and girls.

Impact Assessment

Reviewer One: I am currently placed in a TK classroom and I don’t think that this book is problematic as students in the classroom do not quite understand the idea of gender bias. I think that the students enjoy the dramatic play area, where boys play with Barbies and girls play with cars. I have noticed that my focal student enjoys playing in the kitchen area and with the Barbie house and no one seems to be bothered by it or questions my focal student in his choice of play.

Reviewer Two: I am currently placed in a 1st grade classroom and it seems that all of my students identify as either a boy or a girl, so I don’t think that my students would find this book to be problematic. I believe that my focal student would enjoy this book; he loves coloring during free time and this is a very colorful book that I think he would find visually appealing.

Reviewer Three: I'm placed in a second grade classroom. I feel like my students are more socially aware and will see that a color is a color and it can be for anyone. I don't see it being problematic since all my students refer to themselves as a boy or a girl. My focal student is visually impaired and color blind and when he colors, he colors with his own imagination. Although we do show him what each color is by learning to read the labels he just enjoys the freedom with coloring his picture however.

Alternative Texts

Pink is for Everyody! by Ella Russell
This book isn’t targeted at “boys and girls”, the author actually uses words that are inclusive to all genders, for example, “Pink is for painters” and “Pink is for astronauts”

The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
This book can be another great alternative because rather than linking colors to specific genders, they are linked to monsters as well as feelings

Guiding Questions

1. How is the language used in Pink is for Boys different from the language used in Pink is for Everbody!?
2. Do you see yourself represented more in Pink is for Boys or in Pink is for Everybody!? Why?
3. What did you learn about colors in Pink is for Everybody!? How is it different from what you learned in Pink is for Boys?