Rad American Women Educates Children on the History of Feminism
Vasiliki Marapas — April 2, 2015 — Pop Culture
References: kateschatz & fastcodesign
'Rad American Women: A-Z' is a "feminist primer" text for children written by Kate Schatz, and adorned with papercut portraits by Miriam Klein Stahl. It operates almost as a counter-narrative to prescriptive gender roles and the influences that solidify them, by celebrating the most radical women in American history (from Angela Davis to Patti Smith).
This diverse new curriculum seeks to include women of color and all sexual orientations, broadening the scope of history that elementary students are exposed to. Furthermore, instead of "cute" graphics and colors, 'Rad American Women' features a gender-neutral design and color palette.
Schatz explains, "It's pretty stunning how gendered book covers and colors are, and we knew that if we wanted boys to pick this up and read it -- which we absolutely do -- we'd need a cover and a color scheme that wouldn't be telling them ‘this is for your sister, not you.’"
This diverse new curriculum seeks to include women of color and all sexual orientations, broadening the scope of history that elementary students are exposed to. Furthermore, instead of "cute" graphics and colors, 'Rad American Women' features a gender-neutral design and color palette.
Schatz explains, "It's pretty stunning how gendered book covers and colors are, and we knew that if we wanted boys to pick this up and read it -- which we absolutely do -- we'd need a cover and a color scheme that wouldn't be telling them ‘this is for your sister, not you.’"
Trend Themes
1. Feminist Education - Opportunity to develop interactive feminist educational tools for children and adults.
2. Diverse Curriculum - Opportunity to create diverse curriculum materials that explore underrepresented groups across all grade levels.
3. Gender-neutral Design - Opportunity to create more gender-neutral products that can appeal to a wider range of children.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - Opportunity for publishers to create more interactive and engaging educational materials that promote gender equality.
2. Education - Opportunity to create a more inclusive educational experience for all students, regardless of background or identity.
3. Design - Opportunity to create gender-neutral designs for products and packaging that can appeal to a wider range of consumers.
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