Daily Nebraskan
Friday, April 19, 1985
Professor says literature
distorts women's images
Page 6
Y
Ji-50' 1237 R Street
and
48th & Vine
By Julie Jordan Hendricks
Night News Editor
Contradicting images of women and
their roles pervade contemporary child
ren's literature, said Dr. Dee Storey,
professor of curriculum and instruc
tion. Storey, who spoke Thursday at the
Nebraska Union about "The Image of
Women in Children's Literature," said
that conflicting images of women exist
everywhere in our society, "reflecting a
1980s society that isn't responsive to
women's concerns."
Storey does not dispute the way
women are portrayed in many old tradi
tional children's tales because they
represent women's role in past society.
However, she said, much of today's
literature is full of negative stereotypes
and there are "...very few books that
give a straight-lined image of a woman
that can survive."
"A lot of feminist approaches have
gone overboard," Storey said. She said
women have to be "1,000 times better"
than men to survive in society.
"I would rather see women as equal
r
E 1 L
I ! j j I
V 1
3
J ' U'Ji
0
v
MANUFACTURER'S
jtei WAREHOUSE
'1 r r a c -jr-fc)
lnl LA QV1
1? A QWTOTT
T. WTAnM.TTD CSTTTIG
Assorted Styles
(Zip Fronts, Hoods, Pouch)
Ee. $4B FROM
mm
:! i:
TOFSsinniBsiioniB
& CASUAL PAIJTO
i nn
7
liffiHS s LADIES G)S9
HOODED T-SHIETG
MENS LADIES
MEilONA STYLE
TWILL PANTS
Elastic & Draw String Waist
Reg.
t
NOW FROM
y OU 02
u
MEMS & LADIES
ATHLETIC SHOES
Assorted Styles
30-40 OFF
REGULAR RETAIL
zrnr'rq adldad
MENS & LADIES
FASHION WARM UP
PANTS
liens HJUGcsqu'
El
ALL COLORS.
r
CM1
1 ON)
o y
w
Rcjj. $18
u n j oy
MEMO & LiyMp8
BIYLOM CME
All StylcsColora. Re. 050
van fejk .
Rep-. efcJ wr QpQp.- UiM juiwiiD
OEMS LADIES AKVN- A ITLSSOE
BRANDED vvML-4 Zzfl
active AVil? SHOUTS
; i 1
- J V K I I.. II
Asstd. Cicrt EIssto
Ctylrx Vnluc3 Id C "3
GTYLE3 "Herr. $10
r 9 1 i id M v u h K t
THURCDilY, APRIL 10. .10 AL1-0 FLI
FRIDAY, APRIL 19 . .10 AL9 PL1
SATURDAY, APRIL 20. .10 ALi-7 PL2
DUNDAY, APRIL 21 . .11 AE.I-G PI1
' i.
' LIHCOLH, DJEB.
HEBEASIIA STAT
Snposition BuilCinn-
instead of better," she said.
Storey cited a book of "feminist"
folktales, compiled by women. She said
Throughout the book women are por
trayed as passive, helpless or manipul
ative. One story is about a woman who
literally sold her daughter into marriage.
Storey cited the contradiction of a
nonfeminist book being compiled by
women and compared it with another, a
feminist book written by men. "The
Paper Princess" is about a princess
whose castle and belongings are burned
by a mean dragon who also has kid
napped her handsome prince. After
cladding herself in a paper bag, the
princess sets out to find the dragon and
rescue the prince. She finds the dragon
and tricks him into showing off and
wearing himself out, flame and all.
After being rescued, the prince takes a
look at the princess and scoffs at her
appearance, telling her that it is no way
for a princess to appear.
In this story the princess lives happ
ily ever after, but not with the superfi
cial plastic prince.
Such tales are far from common and
most of children's literature is ridden
with conflicting images of women, Sto
rey said.
"We see one thing and are told
something else," she said.
Contemporary children's literature
is lacking in its treatment of questions
surrounding women's roles and sexual
ity, she said.
New life...
Continued from Page 1
Helen said she was surprised at what
she learned in women's studies classes.
"I didn't know the roots were there
in women's literature. I didn't know
my problems were old problems. I felt I
was always trying to conquer some
thing that nobody else had."
Things began "falling into place" for
Helen. She decided she wanted to help
women who have been in the same
situation as herself.
"I'm concerned because a lot of
women put a lot of emotional depen
dency on other people," she said. "In
many cases it's a male. The answer is in
taking women's studies classes and
being involved in feminist programs to
learn about themselves. Learning their
roots and their history is absolutely
essential."
Helen said today's women have some
thing she didn't have 30 years ago.
"I thought everybody was supposed
to get married," she said. "That's kin4
of what we were led to believe mar
riage was the end result of our girlhood.
Whether we were mature, capable or
not, that's what we did." Women are
beginning to make choices now and see
different paths. I'm really happy for
them. We've still got a long way to go
but we have come a long way since I
was married in 1954."
Helen said with the help of friends
and classes at UNL, she has "disco
vered herself."
"I'm more free and more whole as a
human being," she said. "People that
knew me when I first came here say it
was just a complete miracle. They've
seen a complete change in my person
ality. They say I've freed myself. I know
it. I feel that."
Helen plans to graduate in May with
a bachelor's degree in university stu
dies. She has been accepted into grad
uate school and hopes to be a counse
lor or educator. She will speak today at
3:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union as part
of UNL's Women's Week.
Police
Report
The following incidents were reported to UNL
police between 3:55 a.m. and 10:55 p.m.
Wednesday:
3:55 a.m. Stereo equipment reported
stolen from a car parked at the Selleck Quadran
gle loading dock.
8:55 a.m. Person allegedly attempted to
break into a car in Parking Area 2 near 21st and
Vine streets.
9:26 a.m. Storm gutters reported stolen
from the ROTC Armory Annex on East Campus.