兒童繪本年齡歧視內容分析之研究

Content Analysis of Ageism in Children's Picture Books

兒童繪本是學齡前幼兒認識高齡者的重要管道之一，研究指出兒童繪本中若隱含著年齡歧視的描繪，不僅會使兒童對老化與高齡形象產生負面刻板印象，而且這樣的負面印象會維持至成年時期。有鑑於此，本研究旨在建構兒童繪本年齡歧視之檢核規準，並以內容分析法檢視國內兒童繪本中年齡歧視的情形。本研究結果發現，兒童繪本中有關於高齡長者的分布比例極低，人物角色以祖父母為主，且高齡者的性別及職業皆為傳統的刻板印象。在生理外觀方面，繪本中的高齡者多為健康、有活力的，且具有正向的人格特質。然而，圖文中普遍缺乏世代互動情形，且在形容詞的使用上，多為具有年齡歧視的負面詞彙，缺乏對高齡者深層的認識及描繪。最後，針對兒童繪本中的缺失，文末亦提出幾點不同角度之思維與建議，以作為未來彙編兒童繪本之參考。

Picture books are an important medium for improving preschool children's knowledge of elders. Previous studies have highlighted how the age discrimination prevalent in children's picture books may lead to children adopting negative stereotypes about aging and elders| such impressions may continue even into adulthood. Therefore, this study developed rubrics for examining age discrimination in children's picture books through content analysis. The findings suggested that older adults are given limited representation in children's picture books, and the elderly characters depicted are mostly grandparents. Additionally, traditional stereotypes concerning the gender and occupation of elders were also identified in the selected books. In terms of physical appearance, elders were generally described as healthy and energetic individuals with positive personality traits. However, generational interaction was found to be lacking in the pictures and contents of the selected book. Additionally, the adjectives used for elders were mostly negative and indicative of age discrimination. Overall, the books offered a limited understanding and depiction of elders. On the basis of the study results, some suggestions are proposed to serve as reference for the compilation of children's picture books in the future.