Doing Justice

Uses of Norm Critical Children’s Picture Books in Swedish Preschools

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the perceptions and uses of norm critical literature in Swedish preschool. The research questions highlighted are: What primary uses are associated with norm critical literature in preschool, according to preschool teachers and observations of reading aloud? How does the (claimed) usage of norm critical literature relate to required anti-discrimination and gender equality work? These questions are answered by focusing on the perceptions of preschool teachers as expressed in qualitative interviews with seven educators, and by additional observations of teachers reading aloud to children at six preschools in three different communities in Sweden. The data is categorized by thematical analysis. Two main themes were discerned: "The mirror" and "Combatting (masculine) gender norms". The findings are primarily discussed in relation to Nancy Fraser's (1997) distinction of different kinds of justice and Chantal Mouffe's (2005) concept of the political. The study shows that norm critical literature is considered to be a tool in the obliged value work, used as a mirror and as a tool in combatting outdated gender norms, especially regarding masculinity. The conclusion is that justice in terms of recognition and affirmative recognition were prioritized, while justice in terms of redistribution or transformative recognition was not brought to the fore (Fraser 1997).