How Does Harriet Ziefert Use Gender Stereotypes In My Forever Dress

Children’s books are known for having colorful pictures and sending a positive message to young readers, but what if they are actually sending subliminal messages that children are not aware of? Kids always have a positive outlook on life, so they cannot see the hidden messages in the text. My Forever Dress written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Liz Murphy, tells the story of a young girl whose grandmother makes her a new dress every year. One year she decides that she wants to recycle her own dress and make what is called a forever dress. Although the author of My Forever Dress seems to be a feminist, she uses several gender stereotypes throughout the short story.
Throughout the story it is evident that the author does not promote gender

The story reads, “The next year when I am seven, Grandma talks to me about saving the Earth. ‘We all need to do our part,’ she says” (12). Most of the time people think of men in political roles doing things like helping the environment, but in this case one woman and a child are doing their part. The text also includes a breakthrough toward the end in terms of stereotypical gender roles. Ziefert wrote, “Here I am in my big kid outfit. I like the patterns. And the colors. Blue is my new favorite” (29). Blue is normally a color associated with boys, but in this case it is a girl’s favorite color. She is also wearing a shirt and pants now instead of a

The young girl who is the protagonist in the story asks “How do I look?” several times throughout. Every time she gets a new dress she is in need to know how she looks in it. This quote is portraying women in negative ways because it makes them seem like they have low self esteem and need approval for how they look. This is a stereotypical outline of a female.
The story could be more inclusive if it had more male characters to enhance the plot. The father is not present at all, and the only boys in the story are illustrations. It is evident the author is a feminist and was targeting the audience of young girls. Little girls do not recognize the act of sexism or gender stereotypes, but unconsciously this story is teaching them they should abide gender roles in society. If the author defeated gender stereotypes and the idea of sexual inequality the story would send a more positive message to youth that reads