“Eat up, Gemma”

by Pilar Granda

Before 1970´s, gender roles presented in children´s books were traditional and stereotyped. Families in children´s books were formed by a mother, a father, the children and, in some cases, a grandparent. Although the story “Eat up, Gemma” was written in 1989, it is not the exception.

“Eat up, Gemma” is a book written by Sarah Hayes, which tells the story of a black working class family who encourages their little brown tanned toddler to eat.

In the story, Hayes gives Gemma´s mother a typical position within a traditional family since the female parent looks after the children and she is in charge of the housework. This position is clearly shown in the story and in the pictures. It can be seen that Gemma´s mother goes to the supermarket and she is most of the time at home.

Considering that Gemma´s father hardly appears in the pictures, readers can infer that he works during the week and has the duty of bringing money home like in all traditional families. On Saturdays, he goes to the park with his son and daughter and, on Sunday´s morning he goes to church with his family.  

Taking into account what have been mentioned before, “Eat up, Gemma” plainly reflects a stereotyped family.