Dick and Jane/Week 3, #5

How wonderful to find an image of the basal reader that started me down the track to reading. The "Dick and Jane" books were used to teach reading from the 1930s through the 1970's. The books were reflections of the times and until 1965 did not show characters from other races and cultures. In addition, I attended a seminar on early readers many years ago and discovered many of the images showed stereotypes of girls and boys. Boys were usually shown in some aggressive role while girls were frequently in the background, standing demurely and watching the boys roughhouse. Although many of us learned to read using this and similar series, unfortunate expectations of the roles of male and female were undoubtedly imparted from these stories. Television also reinforced these expectations. Shows such as "The Donna Reed Show," "Ozzie and Harriet," and "Father Knows Best," led many of us to expect our better halves to be waiting in full make-up in a gown at the door with a drink as we returned from work. Reality was indeed quite a shock! By the way, these books are now collectibles.

Images is as follows: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backhomeagain/2489188707/