Author(s): Zhang Ya Qiu, Soo Kum Yoke

Abstract: This mixed-methods study investigates the manifestation and impact of linguistic gender stereotypes in children’s picture books within contemporary China, addressing three research questions. Analyzing the 2022 Ministry of Education edition of Beauty and the Beast alongside responses from 60 Chinese children (aged 9.5-10.5), the research reveals how language reinforces gender binaries. Quantitative and qualitative data demonstrate that male characters are predominantly described with agentic vocabulary ("assertive," "competitive," "decisive") and action verbs ("roar," "fight"), while female characters are labeled with........

Keywords: gender stereotypes; children’s picture books; Gender Schema Theory (GST); Social Learning Theory (SLT); Chinese education

Article Info: Received: 28 Jun 2025; Received in revised form: 21 Jul 2025; Accepted: 25 Jul 2025; Available online: 30 Jul 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.104.41