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25+ Changes To Your Favorite Childhood Book Show How Much Society Has Changed
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Richard Scarry, the prolific children’s book author who has created more than 300 books since 1949, has quietly been updating his work to ensure that it would be acceptable for modern audiences. Since the 1950s, our understanding of gender roles and ethnic relationships has changed, and Scarry has done a great job of ensuring that the children who love his books wouldn’t be influenced by outdated gender norms.
The subtle changes were noticed by Alan Taylor, a senior photo editor at The Atlantic who loved Scarry’s books as a child and noticed the changes in his own kids’ books. What do you think about the changes Scarry has made?
More info: flickr.com (h/t: upworthy, demilked)
Richard Scarry’s “Best Word Book Ever” has changed a lot since 1963
Dad can cook, too!
Flight personnel requirements have become more open
Firefighters will save people no matter their gender or appearance
Men can make their own breakfasts, too
The playground has become a bit more diverse
Cowboys and “Indians” have been removed
Gender-specific occupation names have been changed
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but... it is male* walruses who have tusks... does that mean that they even included a trans in the original book?
Actually both male and female "adult" walruses have tusks. So he was right.
males and females have tusks, males tusks are just larger -_-
i was laughing so hard till I read the comments. lol
Both have tusks.
omg my fav no 1 book when I was a kid. the 1990 version so delicious to look at. Amazing man
Why change "brave hero" to "fire fighter" ?
Right? Firefighters ARE brave heroes. I don't understand why that had to change.
But they can be brave heroines too :D
I was born in the 70's and I remember that book too
The playground scene takes it a bit far.
You mean a skirt chasing the shorts bit? Why not, makes the story a little more interesting...
My children, and my brother and I when we were little, all would just sit and look and look and LOOK, at the pages of his books, and not only listen to the original stories and words, but sit and imagine other stories in our heads about the pictures
Looking forward to the version where all the women and girls aren't wearing skirts and dresses.
That would be difficult because if they dress them with the equally we don't go know they genre.
How do you know that's not already the case? Save for their clothes the characters have no distinguishing sexual characteristics, you're just assuming everyone in pants is a male.
Very few of them are labeled mother or father, and the rest of the outfits with pants are not gendered in any obvious way.
Yeah, labelling them "Mother" and "Father" and putting them in 1950s gendered clothing isn't a clue at all.
Looking forward to the version where all the women aren't wearing clothes.
He isn't updating them, he died in 1994
He updated the book in 1980. The article above is a bit nonsense, referring about 35 years old news.
Why censorship is right? Is not "changes" but more like "i am afraid that my kids learn how was the past" if an author created a book in a certain way it should stay that way, is like the crazy people begging to censor Tom and Jerry becuse is "too violent and racist" shut up! it was made in 1940 and stays that way
Political correctness much?
OMG! Eventually the world is going to have to accept that there are some jobs that men can do better! There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It is not sexist for some men to be stronger, more athletic, or just better at certain things then women! What has the world come to!?!? *sigh*
i like the orignal verision better
Ugh...more PC. *sigh*
i could swear i read that book when i was little
Nope! Society hasn't improved! In fact, we are digressing! It doesn't matter that there is more equality in the world, because there is still this rampant sexism and racism going around. I am disappointed at the Western World especially, putting themselves on such high chairs and pointing their fingers towards other countries. THEY ARE FUCKING LUNATICS OVER THERE!! WE ARE DEVOLVING!! We haven't improved at all! WE ARE SO BACKWARDS!! We think that capitalism is so awesome and that the arch enemies of it (socialism and communism) are bad and sexist. WHEN IN FACT CAPITALISM IS THAT!! Back in the old days, there was a balance in the world. There were the capitalists with their child labour (which still continues today) and the socialists and communists who were forcing children to go to school and get an education. Now, the world is 100% capitalism and people who say that the world is becoming more communist have rocks in their heads.
nurse is still nurse. In our language we call it "medicinal sister" heheh...no "medicinal brother" exists.
https://www.boredpanda.com/here-are-35-of-the-most-satisfying-things-that-have-ever-happened-but-i-cant-explain-why/
I would never have noticed the changes if they weren't pointed out. The changes made were inevitable though.
George Lucas would be proud.
Was born in 1977 and that book was my all time favorite..
Indeed the best child's book!
I love it!
very awesome :)
but... it is male* walruses who have tusks... does that mean that they even included a trans in the original book?
Actually both male and female "adult" walruses have tusks. So he was right.
males and females have tusks, males tusks are just larger -_-
i was laughing so hard till I read the comments. lol
Both have tusks.
omg my fav no 1 book when I was a kid. the 1990 version so delicious to look at. Amazing man
Why change "brave hero" to "fire fighter" ?
Right? Firefighters ARE brave heroes. I don't understand why that had to change.
But they can be brave heroines too :D
I was born in the 70's and I remember that book too
The playground scene takes it a bit far.
You mean a skirt chasing the shorts bit? Why not, makes the story a little more interesting...
My children, and my brother and I when we were little, all would just sit and look and look and LOOK, at the pages of his books, and not only listen to the original stories and words, but sit and imagine other stories in our heads about the pictures
Looking forward to the version where all the women and girls aren't wearing skirts and dresses.
That would be difficult because if they dress them with the equally we don't go know they genre.
How do you know that's not already the case? Save for their clothes the characters have no distinguishing sexual characteristics, you're just assuming everyone in pants is a male.
Very few of them are labeled mother or father, and the rest of the outfits with pants are not gendered in any obvious way.
Yeah, labelling them "Mother" and "Father" and putting them in 1950s gendered clothing isn't a clue at all.
Looking forward to the version where all the women aren't wearing clothes.
He isn't updating them, he died in 1994
He updated the book in 1980. The article above is a bit nonsense, referring about 35 years old news.
Why censorship is right? Is not "changes" but more like "i am afraid that my kids learn how was the past" if an author created a book in a certain way it should stay that way, is like the crazy people begging to censor Tom and Jerry becuse is "too violent and racist" shut up! it was made in 1940 and stays that way
Political correctness much?
OMG! Eventually the world is going to have to accept that there are some jobs that men can do better! There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It is not sexist for some men to be stronger, more athletic, or just better at certain things then women! What has the world come to!?!? *sigh*
i like the orignal verision better
Ugh...more PC. *sigh*
i could swear i read that book when i was little
Nope! Society hasn't improved! In fact, we are digressing! It doesn't matter that there is more equality in the world, because there is still this rampant sexism and racism going around. I am disappointed at the Western World especially, putting themselves on such high chairs and pointing their fingers towards other countries. THEY ARE FUCKING LUNATICS OVER THERE!! WE ARE DEVOLVING!! We haven't improved at all! WE ARE SO BACKWARDS!! We think that capitalism is so awesome and that the arch enemies of it (socialism and communism) are bad and sexist. WHEN IN FACT CAPITALISM IS THAT!! Back in the old days, there was a balance in the world. There were the capitalists with their child labour (which still continues today) and the socialists and communists who were forcing children to go to school and get an education. Now, the world is 100% capitalism and people who say that the world is becoming more communist have rocks in their heads.
nurse is still nurse. In our language we call it "medicinal sister" heheh...no "medicinal brother" exists.
https://www.boredpanda.com/here-are-35-of-the-most-satisfying-things-that-have-ever-happened-but-i-cant-explain-why/
I would never have noticed the changes if they weren't pointed out. The changes made were inevitable though.
George Lucas would be proud.
Was born in 1977 and that book was my all time favorite..
Indeed the best child's book!
I love it!
very awesome :)