Beyond the closet: the representation of lesbian women in childrens' and young adult literature in Spain
Abstract
The visibility of diverse realities, including those of the LGBTIQ+ community in particularly literature aimed at a younger audience, has been a longstanding demand. This visibility serves not only an educational purpose in fostering respect among the younger generation but also aims to ensure that all children can see themselves represented in the stories they read.
To conduct this research, we begin by highlighting various iconic figures of literature considered symbols of homosexual love between women. We then analyze the presence of these relationships in children's and young adult literature. It is essential to first address lesbian visibility in non-youth Spanish literature, as well as censorship, which is unavoidable when discussing a group that has historically been oppressed and punished.
This work serves as an extension of previous research, such as the one published by Cedeira and Cencerrado (2006) in the early 2000s. This contribution focuses on the characteristics of contemporary books with such representation, paying special attention not only to current major trends, such as the representation of diverse families but also to exploring the visibility of homosexual love in childhood and adulthood.
This study concludes with a list of children's and young adult books featuring the visibility of love between women published in Spain.
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