$300 Writing Prize Focuses Kids On Gender Equity

 $300 Writing Prize Focuses Kids On Gender Equity

"Harry Potter could want a few magic spell or potion to extrade himself from a 'Harry' to a 'Harriet,'" joked Nimmo. Nimmo, writer of the emerging "Mustard Twins" fable series, says that tendencies in literature trap youngsters in what he calls a "sort of analyzing time-warp". Nimmo's novel is "The Ancient Egyptian Ennead," which tells the tale of spunky teenage lady heroes.

Harry Potter could be eligible for access into a competition subsidized via way of means of up-and-coming younger grownup novelist R.J. Nimmo - on one condition.

"He could want a few magic spell or potion to extrade himself from a `Harry' to a 'Harriet,'" joked Nimmo, who's an professional on amusement for youngsters and teens.

"Describing how the well-known boy wizard could behave as a witch could be fun for writer and reader alike," Nimmo said. "And it's miles simply the sort of fun, witty and innovative submission our judges are searching for."

Nimmo, writer of the emerging "Mustard Twins" fable series, says that tendencies in literature geared toward younger humans hazard trapping youngsters in what he calls a "sort of analyzing time-warp."

"Certainly, in which representations of gender in fiction heroes and characters are concerned, youngsters' books lag manner in the back of brand new society," he said. "A lot of famous fiction displays old stereotypes of masculine and female roles. And books geared toward youngsters and teens proportion plenty of the blame. I am now no longer most effective speaking approximately mainstream books either, however Newbery and Caldecott medal winners as well."

To assignment the fame quo, Nimmo is encouraging contestants to explain how a favourite fiction ee-e book or tale hero could act or react in a dramatic situation. But there may be a twist: Entrants are first required to change the hero's gender function or characteristics.

With the contest, Nimmo hopes to undoubtedly attune mother and father and youngsters alike to the diffused messages being transmitted thru famous amusement.

"Readers - specifically more youthful ones - are continuously being uncovered to values which are absolutely out of step with present day times," he said.

Studies display that, from Harry Potter to Artemis Fowl, boys outnumber ladies approximately 4 to at least one in books and TV shows, along with the ones written via way of means of women. Furthermore, Nimmo factors out, even books with lady or gender-impartial names of their titles often revolve round a male character.

Why ought to mother and father be concerned?

"Society's values are in large part transmitted to youngsters thru fiction," Nimmo said. "It is consequently essential that mother and father be conscious that shallowness and private improvement are encouraged via way of means of the kind of ee-e book and tale heroes we emulate as youngsters."

Nonetheless, Nimmo said, there are matters mother and father can do to sensitize youngsters to the issue.

"Make positive to encompass books for your analyzing choice in which people are portrayed with exceptional personalities regardless of gender, in which achievements aren't evaluated on the premise of gender and in which people are logical or emotional relying at the situation," he said.

To inspire younger humans to assignment the conventions in tales and books written for them, Nimmo is providing a $three hundred coins prize, plus signed copies of his present day novel, "The Ancient Egyptian Ennead," which tells the tale of spunky teenage lady heroes and their exploits in historical Egypt withinside the time of the pharaohs.