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”Men egentligen tycker jag att det är ganska coolt att vara trans!” - En ickebinärläsning av barnböckerna Månen, Varelsen och Jag och Euphoria Kids

Almgren, Cilix LU (2024) LIVR07 20221
Master's Programme: Literature - Culture - Media
Abstract
This thesis was written to bring attention to a group that is still largely invisible in our society - nonbinary people - and examine how nonbinary identities are characterized in children’s literature. It does so by comparing the books Månen, Varelsen och Jag and Euphoria Kids, and discusses them from the perspectives of the intended reader, trans theory, as well as “skev och monster” theory. This thesis applies these theories by using the method it dubs nonbinaryreading, a conceptualised close reading that takes inspiration from both queer and trans readings.

This thesis concludes that the intended reader of the book, and whether that reader is nonbinary themselves or not, played a vital part in regards to the content and the tone of... (More)
This thesis was written to bring attention to a group that is still largely invisible in our society - nonbinary people - and examine how nonbinary identities are characterized in children’s literature. It does so by comparing the books Månen, Varelsen och Jag and Euphoria Kids, and discusses them from the perspectives of the intended reader, trans theory, as well as “skev och monster” theory. This thesis applies these theories by using the method it dubs nonbinaryreading, a conceptualised close reading that takes inspiration from both queer and trans readings.

This thesis concludes that the intended reader of the book, and whether that reader is nonbinary themselves or not, played a vital part in regards to the content and the tone of the books.
Despite having similar themes Månen, Varelsen och Jag and Euphoria Kids were radically different from each other and the way they portray transness and nonbinary lives.
Månen, Varelsen och Jag clearly set out in attempts to educate cis children, and as a result of that, being trans and nonbinary was shown as something that brought a lot of pain to the protagonist. In Euphoria Kids the intent was instead to make trans kids feel hope and pride, which in turn lead to a characterization of nonbinary as something positive and joyful. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Almgren, Cilix LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
"I actually think being trans is pretty cool!" - A nonbinaryreading of the children's books Månen, Varelsen och Jag and Euphoria Kids
course
LIVR07 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Nonbinary, trans, Children’s literature, Intended reader, ickebinär
language
Swedish
id
9179054
date added to LUP
2025-01-27 15:27:48
date last changed
2025-01-27 15:27:48
@misc{9179054,
  abstract     = {{This thesis was written to bring attention to a group that is still largely invisible in our society - nonbinary people - and examine how nonbinary identities are characterized in children’s literature. It does so by comparing the books Månen, Varelsen och Jag and Euphoria Kids, and discusses them from the perspectives of the intended reader, trans theory, as well as “skev och monster” theory. This thesis applies these theories by using the method it dubs nonbinaryreading, a conceptualised close reading that takes inspiration from both queer and trans readings.

This thesis concludes that the intended reader of the book, and whether that reader is nonbinary themselves or not, played a vital part in regards to the content and the tone of the books. 
Despite having similar themes Månen, Varelsen och Jag and Euphoria Kids were radically different from each other and the way they portray transness and nonbinary lives. 
 Månen, Varelsen och Jag clearly set out in attempts to educate cis children, and as a result of that, being trans and nonbinary was shown as something that brought a lot of pain to the protagonist. In Euphoria Kids the intent was instead to make trans kids feel hope and pride, which in turn lead to a characterization of nonbinary as something positive and joyful.}},
  author       = {{Almgren, Cilix}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{”Men egentligen tycker jag att det är ganska coolt att vara trans!” - En ickebinärläsning av barnböckerna Månen, Varelsen och Jag och Euphoria Kids}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}