Insider/outsider Debate

When it comes to the debate about the insider/outsider writer I am somewhat on the fence. I feel that a person who writes about a culture, race, gender, etc. that they do not belong to could actually write a book that correctly portrays that group. This could be done with the right about to research and data collected to portray the group correctly. On the other side if they do not and especially if they end up using a stereotype or putting that group down in some way, they should not write about them.
Also I feel that even a person in a certain group can write a book that does not correctly portray a certain group of people. Being a white, middle class girl from Michigan does not give me the right to generalize any of the groups I belong to. The experiences I have had may be far more different than those of other girls.
I feel that both the insider and outsider have a chance to write a great book about a group that they do or do not belong to if they do it correctly and watch what they say, how they say it, and what the illustrations in the book say about the group. Also staying away from cultural biases and stereotypes are necessary for an acceptable book.
The only real question I have involves the process for publishing a book. If there are books that are seen as questionable when regarding stereotypes and putting another group down, does that mean that they are not looked over by somebody before they are put on the shelves?

About Me

Hi my name is Michelle and I am a senior in the Special Education program focusing on Learning Disabilities. I have been working with children since my freshman year in high school in our "Special Center". I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl, playing with the other children in the neighborhood. I am from Livonia, Michigan but want to move to Chicago or somewhere out west after I graduate. I plan on going to graduate school right after I graduate for Autism. I love being able to look at a book and decided if it is fit for a classroom or not. I feel that it is very important to bring the right literature to children by not leaving anyone out or hurting somebodys feelings. Im very excited to learn more about analyzing a text and multicultural literature!

Stereotyping with Children

After our discussion this week, I remembered an article I had read in a previous class that had to do with stereotyping. The article was called, "Teaching Young Children to Resist Bias" and was put on the web by the National Association for the Educationof Young Children. This article was bascially about how children are faced with stereotypes at an early age and gives tips on how parents and teachers can help children stay away from forming these ideas. One of the main points that stuck with me over the years was how early children actually start stereotyping. In the article it stated, "We know from research that children between 2 and 5 start becoming aware of gender, race, ethnicity, and disabilities. They also begin to absorb both the positive attitudes and engative biases atteched to these aspects of identity by family members and other sigificant adults in their lives". The article is quite short and very informative, it is really worth looking at.
www.naeyc.org/ece/1997/10.asp