Connecting Through Stories: Analyzing Cultural Representation and Emotions in Children's Literature to Inform the Development of a Dialogic Reading Intervention for Latine Fathers and Children

Author

Taylar McCoy, University of DenverFollow

Date of Award

8-24-2024

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D.

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

John Holmberg

Second Advisor

Amie Levesque

Third Advisor

Lorraine Hart

Keywords

Masculinity, Machismo, Caballerismo, Gender, Latine, Hispanic, Family, Representation, Diversity, Fatherhood, Affective bond, Dialogic reading, Preschool, Emotion

Abstract

This study employed a mixed-methods content analysis, involving the random sampling of children's books, which were each read four times to ensure thorough coding. A detailed codebook was developed, encompassing subthemes and overarching themes, to systematically examine the representation of Latine families, emotional expressions, gender roles, and socio-emotional dialogues contained in a sample of 57 children’s books. Findings showed significant gaps in the representation of Latine characters, with Latine protagonists being notably underrepresented despite their demographic prominence in the U.S. The analysis highlighted a predominance of White and non-human protagonists, limited emotional expression beyond joy, and majority reinforcement of traditional gender roles. Additionally, socio-emotional dialogues were scarce, emphasizing the need for more diverse and inclusive portrayals of characters. These findings highlight a potential developmental and/or clinical application, a dialogic reading intervention in the form of a children’s book which features diverse Latine protagonists who experience a dynamic range of emotions. An outline of a book which could be the basis of a fun and engaging intervention for socio-emotional dialogues between fathers and children, which simultaneously promotes emotional literacy, cultural pride, and healthy masculinity is provided.

Copyright Date

7-9-2024

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Taylar McCoy

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng), Spanish (spa)

Extent

58 pgs

File Size

19.9 MB

Recommended Citation

McCoy, Taylar, "Connecting Through Stories: Analyzing Cultural Representation and Emotions in Children's Literature to Inform the Development of a Dialogic Reading Intervention for Latine Fathers and Children" (2024). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 534.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/534