Gender which is a social construct seems to define the societies in more than one ways. This is so since one must belong to a particular gender which then dictates the kind of activities and interactions that individual is subjected to. Previously, human beings identified as either masculine or feminine but their trend has changed where these gender constructs intermingle to produce various variations. In the recent past, more and more individuals are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questionable (LGBTQ). Consequently, the writers of children’s literature have found themselves at crossroads as they try to make out what the world has turned into and incorporating this to children's literature. However, in their attempt to do so a lot of issues have opened up such as sexualizing children at such a tender age and definitely changing the gender normalcy of society. This essay aims at exploring the dimensions of such sexualisation and sex adjustments in two children literature books; Two Boys Kissing and Tango Makes Three. Using the two books, the paper aims at demonstrating how children’s texts provide opportunities for questioning assumptions about ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ identities.
Synopsis of Two Boys Kissing
This book written by Levithan as the title suggests around the lives of seven boys; Ryan and Avery, Harry and Craig, Peter and Neil and Cooper who have found themselves various stages in exploring their gender identities. The epitome of this novel is the incidence where Craig and Harry who at one time were lovers decide to break the existing record for the longest kiss. This kissing event is planned to happen in the school's lawn in front of everyone including their parents. In summary, this novel aims at bringing out the challenges and moments that teenagers undergo as they explore and adjust to their sexual orientation which might not be acceptable in their society.
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Synopsis of Tango Makes Three
This is a story about two male penguins in Central Park Zoo; Roy and Silo who loved to do everything together. The zookeeper realizing that they are out of place partnership decided to donate an egg to them so that they could get a chance to become parents like the other normal couples. Both Silo and Roy took turns in keeping the egg warm until it hatched into a chick which the zookeeper named Tango hence the name of the story. Consequently, Tango became the first penguin chick to be raised by two daddies in the absence of a female parent.
Children’s Texts Provide Opportunities for Questioning Assumptions About ‘Normal’ and ‘Abnormal’ Identities
The authors of children’s books are finding themselves in complicated situations in trying to draw a line on what is normal or abnormal in the society concerning gender identities. This is so since the modern society brings a whole new definition of what is normal or what is abnormal (Butler 2004, Pp.905). In the provided texts it is almost normal for a child to be brought up by two men or two women who supposedly form a union. This is the situation Tango finds herself, and for her, it is a normal family just like mother- father -children families that exist in the zoo (Richardson & Parnell 2005, n.p). Children therefore as they read these texts they seem to believe that this is a typical situation and would not question it if they saw it in their society. Additionally, it is almost normal to have gay relationships even in schools and teachers do not mind it even if they find out that their students are gay. This was the case with Mrs Benchly when she confirmed to Paul that he was gay in kindergarten (Levithan 2013, Pp.8). Additionally, Paul thought that it was normal for boys to be attracted to boys and stay away from girls until Mrs Benchly said otherwise.
The cultural constructs usually dictate how children and adolescents should represent their body in a particular society. This lies against the backdrop that the concept of sexualizing one’s body should not appear among young adults and children considering they are not yet aware of what it means. However, with the change in gender constructions and the resultant literature, more and more adolescents and children are exposed to different perspectives concerning their bodies (Connell 1995, Pp.74). In Two Boys Kissing the writer seems to show that teenagers are free to get involved in gay relationships and can even go ahead and kiss in public to get in the record book which is considered normal in modern societies. The fact that their parents are among the spectators affirms that this trend has been culturally accepted and children and adolescents are free to use their bodies as they please. This moves the focus from what was abnormal formerly to what is now a culturally accepted behaviour. This notion is cemented further when Ted wins elections in spite of his gay orientation being in the open for everyone to view (Levithan 2013, Pp.12).
Post-feminism which is a movement which came into being after the feminist movement concerns itself with ensuring that tasks are shared equally among the men and women which is considered as the normal thing to do. These functions include rearing of children among others. This element which is captured in Tango Makes Three where both Roy and Silo take turns in keeping the egg warm for it to hatch. In a gay relationship, there is usually the feminine, and the masculine partner and the sharing of responsibilities is a part of the relationship (Richard & Parnell 200, np). This is what is referred to as repro-narrativity where life is made wholesome with children in it and less wholesome with no children a concept considered normal in any society (Lester 2014, Pp.245).
The gays and other individuals with different sexual orientations are defined by some normal consumer culture which is presented by the trends and activities that define these people. In two boys kissing Joni a gay student is competing with Ted, a straight kid for third-grade presidency and Joni wins the position most probably of being cool (Levithan 2013, Pp.11-12). Both boys and men usually resort to the use of homophobic insults to get social dominance which is an ingrained culture as demonstrated by Ted (Wickens 2011, Pp.159). More so Amber confesses to Paul to being a Club Kid which she wants to be kept a secret which is typical of lesbian individuals to want their life to be kept a secret(Levithan 2013,Pp.142).
Contemporary discourses and research are much more focused on the child’s body which has become sexualised at such a tender age making this a normal phenomenon with many writings contributing to this situation. This is as a result of permissiveness in the society where such children are exposed to various gender constructs and orientations art such a very tender age (Wickens 2011, Pp. 160). The children in modern society are exposed to different research outcomes which are aimed to reveal how the various concepts of gender can be interwoven together to enable the community to make sense out of it. The authors are particularly keen on twisting the different story lines to demonstrate how masculinity and femininity have evolved through time and changed meaning for various groups. This way the society is expected to get a deeper understanding of where it is coming from and where it is headed to in order to adapt to the new normal. The boys in Levithan Two Boys Kissing , are created to try and put a remedy to the over glorified homophobic insults hauled at Joni which fails with Joni triumphing over Ted (Levithan 2013, Pp.12). This kind of approach is normally used by most males to refer to those males whom they feel do not conform or fall short of the normal definition of masculinity though it seems to be turning into abnormality as more people embrace different sexual orientation practices.
The contemporary debates and literal underpinnings have put modern children in a situation that is compromising which is the new normal. They are exposed to all kinds of literature with no choice to either indulge or not indulge into. The schools are finding themselves giving in to consumerism demands and have to buy literature that exposes the young children to themes that can be considered to be out of their league. Once children read such texts, they assimilate the content and normalize what would have been taken into account as abnormal. They end up finding fantasy in sexual indulgences which are highlighted in such books where they are sexualised (Wickens 2011, Pp.156). They further find being gay or lesbian as a normal way of life and they live the mainstream normalcy in their societies. Paul figured out from his report card comments that he was gay while he was still in kindergarten which is quite an early age for such discoveries (Levithan 8). What this literature does is to control the minds of these children by being initiated into something they are not ready for at their age.
The male character in the modern society is highly based on masculinity which is evidenced through the display of strength, knowledge, machismo among other aspects pertaining to masculinity (Messerschmidt 2005, Pp.832). However, this male identity is cantered on the Western conceptualization of masculinity which can be considered definitive. The child readers are exposed to a different perspective of masculinity where men are involved in bringing up children which is in contrast to the existing notions of male identity. This is so because the role of parenting is left entirely to mothers but of same-sex marriage for gay couples, that situation is changing (Connell 1995, Pp. 73). In Tango makes three, parenting is left for males who take the sole responsibility of raising Tango in the absence of females (Richardson & Parnell 2005, n.p). This is normal in the modern society where same sex marriage partners tend to adopt children to make it a complete and a normal family like the mainstream families.
The children’s texts have shifted their focus from how individuals think or act to how they are looking focus from in their judgment. In these texts for one to qualify to earn societal respect in spite of an individual’s sexual orientation, one must be White and come from middle class. If the opposite is true that one is black and poor, then one is misjudged based on their sexual orientation. Most adverts being aware of this societal approach search for such individuals who are built and with fair skin to make their promotional sales (Stephens 1996, Pp 22). The intellect is no longer considered as long as the looks are appealing since this is the selling point
. Literature usually depicts the happenings of society, and so does the children literature found in the market. The writers of this literature often look for avenues for channelling their views, hopes, disappointments, and critiques of the society they are living in. Readers of such literature can see the situation that their society is in and how it affects them as individuals and as the society as a whole (Stephens 1996, Pp.22). In addition, readers can view themselves in the depicted characters as they try to make meanings of what is expected of them and their roles in maintaining or destabilizing the status quo.
In conclusion, the writers of children’s literature have had to adopt the current gender trends that have found their way in the modern society and which are considered normal and acceptable. While this is commendable, it leaves the readership that is the adolescents and children at a crossroad. This is so because they are exposed to various sexual orientations at such a tender age which renders their bodies to belong to some societal manipulative forces. The characters in these two stories tend to advance certain permissiveness in LGBTQ relationships which the society has allowed flourishing. Being White and coming from a middle-class level is seen as okay and this further stamp and empowers individuals with queer sexual orientations.
References
Butler, J., 2004. Performative acts and gender constitution. In J. Rivkin, & M. Ryan. Literary theory: an anthology , 2nd Ed (900-911). Blackwell Publishers.
Connell, R. W., 1995. Chapter 3: The social organization of masculinity. In Masculinities (pp. 67-86, 249-250). Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
Lester, J. Z., 2014. Homonormativity in Children’s Literature: an Intersectional Analysis of Queer-Themed Picture Books. Journal of LGBT Youth, 11, 244-275
Levithan, D., 2014. Two Boys Kissing . New York: Knopf. Print.
Messerschmidt, J. W., 2005. Hegemonic Masculinity: Rethinking the Concept. Gender and Society, 19 (6), 829-859.
Richardson, J. & Parnell, P., 2005. Tango Makes Three . New York: Simon and Schuster.
Stephens, J., 1996. Gender, genre and children's literature. S Signal 79 (1996), 17-30.
Wickens, C. M., 2011. Codes, Silences, and Homophobia: Challenging Normative Assumptions about Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary LGBTQ Young Adult Literature. Children’s Literature in Education , 42 , 148–164.
