100 years

If you walk through a bookstore, stroll (or perhaps, scroll) through library shelves, or see the books your child is reading in school, it might seem like children’s books are more diverse and inclusive than ever. 

That’s why I was surprised by a recent study that used Ai to analyze 100 years of children’s books, found that “mainstream” children’s books have actually become whiter over the last 20 years.

The word “mainstream” is key here-the study separated out “diversity” books which highlighted women or people of color. But children are twice as likely to check out “mainstream” books from public libraries vs other books, making the impact of these books greater.

The study also found that while mainstream books are more likely to feature people with lighter skin color, both groups of books show children to have lighter skin. 

The analysis also showed that while female characters are consistently included in books’ pictures, they are less often heard from in the story...while white males were consistently over-represented in children’s books, consistently throughout the century. 

Despite how far we still have to go, the world has changed a lot in the past 100 years, and the past 20 years...yet the books most children are reading, most often, are still reflecting a less diverse, less equitable world. 

Full Article here.