Why has Turkey banned children from reading Rebel Girls?
This week it has been revealed that Turkey has banned the sale of Rebel Girls to children. The sensational number one bestseller has been published in 47 languages, teaching young girls all over the world about game-changing and inspiring women throughout history. Why would a country make such a rash decision to diminish a book so positively influential to the next generation of females?
Transformation in Children’s Books
In the past children’s books have always been dominated by male characters, overrun by male authors writing about male figures. A new agenda of book titles about inspiring young girls have boomed this year, such as Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, selling over one million copies (Flood, 2019). In response to these modernist titles the Turkey government has stated that it could have a “detrimental influence on the minds of those under the age of 18 (Flood, 2019).” Feminism has become a reoccurring theme in a number of children’s books, this has been a focal point for authors since diversity in recent years has become a hub for discussion and leading change.
International editors, publishing directors and agents gathered in New York for the children’s book salon to discuss observations, trends and future prospects in this latter. Feedback from interviews gave an insight into their views, there was a mutual agreement there was a sense of astonishment by “the sheer amount of various girl power titles and the way editors were talking about this trend suggested it’s not even nearly saturated yet” (Publishing, Perspectives, 2019). This approves that Rebel Girls is on the money and Turkey government are resisting positive change in the publishing industry.
Response and reasoning to the Turkish ban.
Founder and CEO of Rebel Girls Elena Favilli is ‘deeply saddened” to hear of this ban (Flood, 2019). It’s a breath of fresh air to witness women role models such as JK Rowling, Malala Yousafzai, Irena Sendlerowa influencing the next generation of women and deeply refreshing not to see Kim Kardarshian and Miley Cyrus on the cover of children’s books. The only reason for the ban that can be concurred is whether the word rebel wasn’t suitable, the term can be interpreted for not expressing the value of what the book is establishing. The Turkish government board stated that to them “being a ‘rebel girl’ means living on your own terms and resisting society’s expectations” (Flood, 2019), this can be relatable at first hand.
Culture Difference
In light of trying to understand the ban, it maybe triggered from a misunderstanding in cultural terms of the word ‘rebel.’ Favilli states “To us, being a ‘rebel girl’ means living on your own terms, resisting society’s expectations. Being a rebel is finding a way of succeeding against the odds, making the most out of your circumstances. Rebel Girls exists to create a more equal world (thebookseller.com, 2019).” This is a far cry from the Turkish who understand the term ‘rebel’ as an extreme and outright unacceptable, to be a rebel is to merely cause destruction. It’s easy to judge that Turkey are based in the past, less open minded about certain propositions generated from previous generations. However, digging deeper we can sympathise they may have simply confused the meaning behind what a rebel is.
Bibliography
Flood, A. (2019). Read like a girl: how children’s books of female stories are booming. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/aug/11/read-like-a-girl-how-childrens-books-of-female-stories-are-booming [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
Laity, P. (2019). The triumphant return of Rebel Girls: ‘We are proud our book has become a symbol of resistance’. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/feb/24/elena-favilli-francessca-cavallo-interview-rebel-girls-2 [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
McDonagh, M. and McDonagh, M. (2019). Who really wants to read feminist children’s books? | The Spectator. [online] The Spectator. Available at: https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/06/who-really-wants-to-read-feminist-childrens-books/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
Priestley, A., Priestley, A., Tu, J., Tu, J., Lambert, T., Lambert, T., Hislop, M., Hislop, M., Agenda, W., Agenda, W., Beekhuyzen, D., Beekhuyzen, D., Hislop, M., Hislop, M., Nelson, S., Nelson, S., Ahmad, D. and Ahmad, D. (2019). ‘Detrimental influence’: Turkey partially bans Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. [online] Women’s Agenda. Available at: https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/detrimental-influence-turkey-partially-bans-good-night-stories-for-rebel-girls/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
Publishing Perspectives. (2019). Viewpoints From the Children’s Books Salon: Trends, Concerns, and Publishing Pride. [online] Available at: https://publishingperspectives.com/2018/02/childrens-books-salon-international-participants-viewpoints/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
Thebookseller.com. (2019). Turkey bans sale of Rebel Girls to children | The Bookseller. [online] Available at: https://www.thebookseller.com/news/turkish-government-bans-rebel-girls-children-1093201?destination=node/1093201 [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
The Telegraph. (2019). Return of the Rebel Girls: the runaway success stories of women who changed the world. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/return-rebel-girlsthe-runaway-success-stories-women-changed/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].
