CHILDREN’S LITERATURE II

MODULE SIX: LECTURE ONE

SOCIAL REALISM – THE LITERATURE OF OPPRESSION

Social protest literature is rooted in 18th century literature that addressed social problems, but which,

more often than not, did not present a solution. The social novel also known as the social problem novel

or social protest novel is a work of fiction in which a prevailing social problem such as gender, race, or

class prejudice is dramatized through its effects on the characters of a novel. A few specific social

problems addressed include poverty, conditions in factories and mines, child labor, prostitution, violence

against women, rising criminality and epidemics because of over-crowding and poor sanitation in cities.

Social Problem Novels

In England during the 1830s and 1840s the social novel rose as a reaction to a rapid industrialization and

the social, political and economic issues associated with it. This literature was a means of commenting on

abuses of government and industry and the suffering of the poor, who were not profiting from England’s

economic prosperity. Social problems are an important concern, for example, in all the novels of Charles

Dickens. Dickens was a fierce critic of the poverty and social stratification of Victorian society, and his

many works serve as a lifelong condemnation of the injustices committed by the rich against the poor and

downtrodden in Victorian society. Two of his most famous works dealing with these issues are ‘Oliver

Twist” (1839) and “Hard Times” (1854).

Another fierce critic of oppression against the poor in society was French author Victor Hugo. In 1857 he

wrote his most famous work, “Les Miserables,” which rose to become the most significant social protest

novel of the 19th century in Europe. Even today his story of a man who is ultimately condemned to twenty

years of hard labor for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving sister and her many children touches

the hearts of audiences worldwide. There have been many film adaptations of ‘Les Miserables” and even

a Broadway show - the fifth longest running Broadway show in history.

In America “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1852) by Harriet Beecher Stone and “Huckleberry Finn” (1884) by Mark

Twain were popular social protest novels. In addition, two black writers who were famous for their protest

literature were Richard Wright, author of “native Son” (1940) and James Baldwin, author of “Go Tell it on

The Mountain” (1953.)

All these different authors dealt with the injustices committed against marginalized groups., whether by

gender, class, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

Characteristics of Social Realism

• Takes place in the present or in the recent past

• Characters are involved in events that could happen

• Characters live in places that could be or are real

• The characters seem like real people with real issues that are solved in a realistic way

• Class is closely studied – especially middle-class life

• The dialogue is believable

Popular Children’s Social Realism Novels from the Last 100 Years

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1976)

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (1967)

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (1976)

• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1977)

• Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (1999)

• Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (2000)

• The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo (2000)

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE II

MODULE SIX: LECTURE TWO

OPPRESSION

Oppression is typically defined in terms of a dominant group subjugating another minority group.

Oppression is malicious or unjust treatment or exercise of power. Oppression may be overt or covert,

depending on how it is practiced. Oppression refers to discrimination when the injustice does not target

and may not directly affect everyone in society but instead treats specific groups of people.

Social Oppression

Social oppression is when a single group in society takes advantage of and exercises power over another

group using dominance and subordination. This results in the socially supported mistreatment and

exploitation of a group of individuals by those with relative power. In a social group setting, oppression

may be based on many ideas such as poverty, gender, class, race or sexual orientation. Systematic

oppression is when the laws of a place create unequal treatment of a specific social identity group or

groups

Privilege

Some political theorists argue that oppression persists because most individuals fail to recognize it, that

is, discrimination is often not visible to those who are not in the midst of it. Privilege refers to a

sociopolitical immunity one group has over others derived from particular societal benefits. Most groups

who are privileged because of gender or race, for example, can be unaware of the power their privilege

holds. These inequalities further perpetuate themselves because those who are oppressed rarely have

access to resources that would allow them to escape their maltreatment. This can lead to internalized

oppression, where subordinate groups essentially give up the fight to get access to equality and accept

their fate as a non-dominant group.

Racial Oppression

Racial oppression is defined as “burdening a specific race with unjust or cruel restraints or impositions.”

Some important forms of racial oppression are genocide, geographical displacement, slavery, second-class

citizenship and racial discrimination.

• Genocide and Geographical Displacement: U.S. settlers took over the lands of the indigenous

population. Native Americans were relocated to Indian reservations or killed during wars which

were fought over possession of their land

• Slavery: Africans were taken from their homeland and sold as property to white and some black

Americans

• Second Class Citizenship: This refers to some categories of citizens having fewer rights than

others. For example, during the times of Jim Crow we had “separate but equal” laws, which did

not allow blacks full citizenship in the United States

• Racial Discrimination: These are discriminatory actions that are not directly backed by the State,

but take place in widespread everyday social interactions: employers not hiring certain individuals

based on race, landlords only renting to people of certain racial groups, etc.

Gender Oppression

This is carried out through the gender norms society has adopted. In many cultures, masculinity is

dominant, and femininity is subordinate. Many theorists argue that cultural practices concerning gender

norms of childcare, housework, and appearance impose an unfair burden on women, keeping them from

developing their full potential as human beings. Gender oppression can also take place against trans

gender non-conforming or non-binary individuals who do not identify with binary categories of

male/female.

Class Oppression

This type of oppression can be defined as prejudice and discrimination based on social class. Class is an

unspoken social ranking system which is based on income, wealth, education, status and power. Class

oppression of the poor and working class can lead to further poverty and feelings of shame and inferiority.

Religious Persecution

This is systematic mistreatment of individuals because of their religious beliefs