You’re sick of your boyfriend’s imagination being fueled only by rewarding stories toxic masculinity ? We dug up a little nugget for you: Potatouille ! It rises one morning at Solal Pat, a furry monster that has funny ideas on how to behave when you are a boy. Fortunately, Solal will help him feel better and freer.
On the occasion of the book release this Thursday January 12thwe met its author Tiffany Cooperwho spoke to us inclusive education and representations.
To miss. How did you get there the idea create Potatouille, this hairy and disgusting imaginary beast?
Tiffany Cooper. Initially for this book, I wanted to create a character who would represent patriarchy. So of course I thought aa whim ! At first, I drew it clean on him and looking good. It was my editors who pointed out to me that it looked good nicewhich is a bit antinomian with patriarchy !
So I took the test to draw it outright crackwith spiky hair, dark circles under his eyes, a slightly broken mouth and flies flying around him… and there we said to each other that it was much more fun and coherent like this!
The name Pat it appeared to me like evidence one day : Pat for patriarchy. And I thought of the nickname “Patatouille,” because that’s what I say to my son when he’s being silly. And it must be said that it goes quite well with this monster!
By continuing to educate children in a gendered way, we maintain the patriarchy (…)
Your book talks about the activities offered to the boys, their clothes, household chores… Why did you do it selected to deal these themes in particular?
Tiffany Cooper. I wanted to address these issues, because they are situations of daily life in which children are led to integrate sexist notions in spite of themselves. It seemed important to me to say that all colors are for everyone, that we are nice to everyone (even people we don’t like), that everyone has to participate in the house, that all sports and games are for everyone!
It seems obvious said so, but when you see the number of 6-7 year olds who think that pink or prom is only for girls and that soccer and superheroes are only for boyswe sayThis book should be read to all children from an early age. to put an end to received ideas !
This type of message is also often conveyed by the adults around the child who don’t even realize they hold sexist ideas. This book can therefore also serve as booster shot for some adults !
Basically, very young children are born innocent and without these gendered and sexist ideas! It means it’s something they learn.
Because you wanted to talk about enforced gender norms guysand not girls?
Because on the side of girls, it is already quite well assimilated : almost everyone understood that a girl today can do whatever she wants. In any case, a little girl who loves soccer or science, today it is valued.
While a little boy who likes to wear pink, dress up as a princess or dance, Unfortunately, it still worries many people. ! By continuing to gender gender, we maintain the patriarchywith the known consequences: kids learn to muzzle their emotions, are encouraged to use violence and gradually assimilate the idea that the feminine is negative (“Why are you crying? Are you a girl or what?”) and that the masculine is positive, therefore superior. What maintains the domination of men over women and any other minority. This is what I want to destroy at the root.
Why basically very young children are born innocent and without these gendered and sexist ideas! It means it’s something they learn. And it must end. Everyone would benefit from a more just and egalitarian world.
Solal represents the heterosexual cis white man before its sexist formatting. I wanted to call it Solal because in Hebrew it means “guide” or “one who shows the way”. For a guy who refuses patriarchal injunctions, I thought he’d be a nice symbol!
In Patatouille, we hardly see no adultsS. How come?
I admit that I don’t know why, I didn’t do it on purpose! But maybe it’s because I read a lot of books Peanuts (Snoopy) And Calvin & Hobbes when I was little, where parents are almost non-existent!
What interests me is placing myself on the child’s scale, entering his universe. Solal represents the heterosexual cis white man before its sexist formatting. I wanted to call it Solal because in Hebrew it means “guide” or “one who shows the way”. For a guy who refuses patriarchal injunctions, I thought that would be a nice symbol!
Think this R children’s booksenforce gender norms oppressive, or at least not enough is being done to promote inclusiveness?
It’s been like this for a long time, yes. Our generation has been imbued with stories of brave knights (white) who go to war and princesses (white and skinny) waiting for love locked up in dungeons… It’s about time that changed! Fortunately, with the new wave of feminismin recent years we have started to see representations change and stories become more and more inclusive.
Do you feel you see better representations in the content offered to children in terms of inclusiveness?
Yes luckily! Thanks in particular to publishing houses such as We don’t count for butterwhich it intends to offer inclusive children’s books. That’s why I wanted to post Potatouille with them ! Today there are more and more great books that include the genre: Princess Kevin, Julian is a mermaid, Love, fame and boogers, Simon’s lover, Lipstick…
The representations also change in cartoons : Pixar recently released red alerta cartoon whose protagonist is a little girl Asian going through the pains of adolescence, e disney just got out Avaloniawhich depicts, among other things, a little boy metis in love with another boy ! It was time !
Featured Image Credit: © We Don’t Count For Butter
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
