Source: http://www.wautoma.k12.wi.us/redgranite/Classrooms/Mertz/rajahrice.JPGHere is another math picture book- The Rajah's Rice: A Mathematical Folktale from India.
Who do you think this story may identify or connect to more, males or females? Why?
5 comments:
This book should attract more female readers, as the images and emotions depicted are that of a gendered female's role. First, we see the image of the female with an elephant. Secondly, she is caressing, if not holding the elphants trunk in a very caring or "mothering" manner. Lastly, the elephant seems to be female as well, as it is depicted with the shorter tusks incomparision to male elephants having larger tusks.
Tony
Michael says,
I think that this book should attract female readers more. The lady is shown in a nurturing posture and delicately petting the elephant. The background is peaceful and serene, there is no sign of weapons or aggression as in the cover for Sir Cumference. The elephant and the lady are both holding each other with great care and affection.
Interesting comments. I too agree about the images.
What about the text? Rajah is a doctor and in this story, who is male and saves the elephant. Why is "doctor" or "Rajah" in the title rather than the girl's name?
The text, when solely examining a cover's illustration, is irrelevant. I (and many more) would not have known the gender or role of "Rajah" in the story unless told. However, if someone is familiar with the term Rajah, which means prince or king in India, might associate the story to a patriarchal society, as it is "the Rajah's rice" and the girl being a servant of some sort. In this case, I would then see a conflict between both title and illustration, as they do not correlate to one another. However, people and especially young children, unfamiliar with the term Rajah will initially believe Rajah is the cover girl’s name and associate Rajah to her likeness before reading the story. Hence, small children will not initially associate the book with male characteristics if they are unfamiliar by the term Rajah, but will associate it to a "girls book" based solely on the imagery. Thus, it depends on the audience’s perspective and experience when first glancing at the story that will cause them to gender it for girls or boys.
This is true Tony. This is why it is very important for educators to pre-read a book, before they share it with their students.
To find the definition of Rajah, you can click on the word Rajah that is underlined, and it will bring you to a new website to provide the definition.
I might disagree regarding young children's perceptions of gender. Some of the children we teach, as early as Kindergarten, have already made assumptions regarding gender (e.g. pink is for girls and blue is for boys). However, I do agree with you regarding the term "Rajah". I too, did not know what this meant, until I looked it up in the dictionary.
Thus, I think we need to be aware not only of the overt visual and verbal messages we send children in the books we read, but also the covert ones as well.
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