Den galna professorn - bilden av akademiker i barnlitteratur

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När akademiker dyker upp i barnfilmer och litteratur är det oftast som vithåriga äldre man i labbrock som är antingen väldigt speciella eller helt enkelt galna. En artikel av Melissa Terras (University College London), Male, Mad and Muddleheaded: The portrayal of academics in children’s books is shockingly narrow, beskriver hennes forskning kring hur akademiker gestaltar sig i barnkultur. Endast 9% av alla exempel hon har studerat har varit kvinnor och 98% var vita. Är det inte dags att få en mer positiv bild av akademins roll i samhället och framför allt positiva rollmodeller, både manliga och kvinnliga?

Children’s perceptions of scientists have been shown to be based on various stereotypes, and the stereotypes of academics presented and promulgated in these books is the product of writers and publishers who, taken together, quite clearly don’t think academics are much cop, which will percolate back to those who read the books, or have the books read to them. Academics are routinely shown as individuals obsessed with one topic who are either baffled and harmless and ineffectual, or malicious, vindictive and psychotic, and although these can be affectionate sketches ..... academics routinely come across as out of touch weirdos – and what is that teaching kids about universities?