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ARTICLES

Selection, Inclusion, Evaluation and Defense of Transgender-Inclusive Fiction for Young Adults: A Resource Guide

Pages 288-309 | Received 08 Jan 2008, Accepted 15 Jun 2008, Published online: 14 Aug 2009
 

Abstract

An increasingly visible youth transgender population is emerging and the number of transgender-inclusive fiction texts for young adults is growing. Adults serving teens in schools, libraries, and community agencies must begin actively pursuing, utilizing, and incorporating these texts into resource collections. This article provides an overview of the great diversity found in transgender-inclusive young-adult texts—especially those written in the first few years of the genre and those with a transgender character in a secondary or minor role. Fiction with transgender characters and themes for young readers are evaluated for content: close attention to validity of characterizations, plot themes, and “message” of overall text. An annotated list of transgender-inclusive fiction titles for young adults is included.

Actualmente, la emergente población transgénero se ha vuelto más visible, a la vez que el número de textos de ficción dirigidos a adultos jóvenes y que incluye a personajes transgénero, sigue creciendo. Los adultos que están en contacto con adolescentes en escuelas, bibliotecas y agencias comunitarias deben buscar, utilizar e incorporar estos textos en sus colecciones y fuentes. Este artículo brinda una visión general de la gran diversidad existente en los textos dirigidos a adultos jóvenes que son incluyentes de la transgeneridad, especialmente aquellos escritos en los primeros años de la existencia de este género y aquellos con un personaje transgénero en un papel secundario o menor. Se evaluó el contenido de la ficción que incluye personajes transgénero y temas para jóvenes lectores con atención principal a la validez de dichos personajes, a la trama y al “mensaje” del texto. Se incluye una lista comentada de títulos de ficción para adultos jóvenes que incluye el tema de la transgeneridad.

Uma crescente e visível população, formada por jovens pessoas transgênero (“trans”), emerge; da mesma forma, cada vez mais, textos de ficção para jovens adultos, de temática trans, são lançados. Deve-se buscar ativamente suprir as coleções de bibliotecas, escolas, e agências comunitárias de modo a que este material temático esteja disponível para os adolescentes. Este artigo fornece um panorama da grande diversidade encontrada em textos que incluem a temática “trans” e que se destinam aos jovens adultos: em especial, os primeiros textos escritos no gênero e aqueles com personagens “trans”, sejam eles secundários ou de menor importância. Textos de ficção destinados a jovens leitores, com personagens ou temática “trans”, são avaliados pelo seu conteúdo: é dada atenção à validade de seus personagens, à trama, e à “mensagem” do texto em geral. Uma relação anotada daqueles textos de temática inclusiva “trans” está incluída.

Notes

1. The Office of Intellectual Freedom at ALA offers a wealth of information regarding materials challenges on their website (http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/Default622.htm), including a “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Tool Kit,” which contains links to ALA policies related to sexuality and gender identity, bibliographies or related materials, and information on justifying LGBTIQ materials in library collections. A document titled Resolution on Threats to Library Materials Related to Sex, Gender Identity, or Sexual Orientation, adopted by the ALA council in 2005, includes the following three resolutions:RESOLVED, that the American Library Association affirms the inclusion in library collections of materials that reflect the diversity of our society, including those related to sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation; and be it furtherRESOLVED, that the American Library Association encourages all American Library Association chapters to take active stands against all legislative or other government attempts to proscribe materials related to sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation; and be it furtherRESOLVED, that the American Library Association encourages all libraries to acquire and make available materials representative of all the people in our society. (http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/threats.htm)

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