Meet Jessica and Elizabeth from Sweet Valley - Who are the female role models in popular romance novels for children?

Sep 24, 2026

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Paper analyzes how Jessica and Elizabeth, twin protagonists featured throughout Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley series, function as role models for young girls in popular romance novels. Using content analysis of approximately 22 fictional romance chapter books for elementary students, the study compares commonalities and differences among female characters through Jungian and feminist theory. Discussion covers protagonists' growth, internal versus external locus of control, gendered behavior, stereotypic “girl-ish” role models, and faux-maturity themes, with appendixes summarizing results and examples of unchecked negative behavior.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Characters and study purpose

Formula fiction and romance for adults

ED 470819 AUTHOR TITLE PUB DATE NOTE PUB TYPE EDRS PRICE DESCRIPTORS IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT DOCUMENT RESUME IR 021844 Roberts,Sherron Killingsworth # Meet Jessica and Elizabeth from Sweet Valley:Who Are theFemale Role Models in Popular Romance Novels for Children?2002-04-02 21p.;.Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the AmericanEducational Research Association(New Orleans,LA,April 1-5,2002). Information Analyses(070)--Reports -Evaluative(142)--Speeches/Meeting Papers(150) EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. Characterization;Children;*Childrens Literature;*ContentAnalysis;Elementary Education;*Females;*FeministCriticism;*Fiction;*Novels;Role Models;Sex Role;SexStereotypes *Formula Fiction;Jung(Carl G);*Romance Novels Jessica and Elizabeth are two female characters,twins,featured.throughout Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley series,the BantamPublishers popular series for girls from elementary school through juniorhigh,high school,university,and well into adulthood.This paper notes thatthese books are a part of the same formula that are used for romance novelswritten for adults(Harvey,1981;Lane,1981;Watson,1981),and as part of acontent analysis of approximately 22 fictional romance chapter books writtenfor elementary students,the paper seeks to examine the commonalities anddifferences among female characters as role models for young girls within acontext of Jungian and feminist theory.Discussion related to protagonists'growth,internal versus external locus of control exhibited by the protagonist,strong gender lines,role models of stereotypic"girl-ish"andnegative behavior,and the promotion of faux-maturity themes are examined inthis paper.Appendixes include a table of results of female protagonists in22 Sweet Valley Kids novels according to internal or external locus of.control,and examples of unchecked negative behavior derived from field notesfrom the Sweet.Valley Kids series.(Contains 30 references.)(Author/AEF) | Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document. | | --- | ED470 819 ## Meet Jessica and Elizabeth from Sweet Valley:Who are the female role models in popular romance novels for children? Submitted by Sherron Killingsworth Roberts,Ed.D.Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Central Florida885 Lullwater DriveOviedo FL 32765-8513Phone:407-823-2016Fax 407-823-2815Skrobert@mail.ucf.edu PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE ANDDISSEMINATE THIS MATERIALHASBEEN GRANTED BY S.K.Roberts TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESINFORMATION CENTER(ERIC) 1 AERA presentationApril 2,2002 Author's note:My sincere gratitude goes to Ms.Mary Hougland,graduate student,whoserved as a second reader and gave a great deal to the piece in terms of our discussions. IR021844 BEST COPY AVAILABLE U.S.DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOffice of Educational Research and ImprovementEDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER(ERIC) 虫-This document has been reproduced asr mi d 4 L- Precev Trom the person or organizationoriginating it. n MAinnr rhannagh A hAPnmAn通1improve reproduction quality. Points ot view or oninions stated in thisdocument do not necessariwy renresenlofficial OERI position or policy. ## Meet Jessica and Elizabeth from Sweet Valley:Who are the female role models in popular romance novels for children? Meet two popular females,Jessica and Elizabeth,who are featured throughoutFrancine Pascal's Sweet Valley series.Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are twins inBantam Publishers popular series for girls from elementary school through junior high,high school,university,and well into adulthood as they travel to romantic places likeParis and Rome.When one reads the title of this proposal referring to popular romancenovels for children,perhaps a creeping feeling of discrepancy enters the mind.Childrenreading romance novels?In actuality,these books are a part of the same formula that areused for romance novels written for adults(Harvey,1981;Lan

FAQs

Who are the central characters analyzed in the paper?

The paper focuses on Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, twins featured throughout Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley series.

What method does the paper use to examine female characters?

It uses content analysis of approximately 22 fictional romance chapter books for elementary students, coding themes within a Jungian and feminist theoretical context.

Which aspects of the protagonists are discussed as part of their role-modeling?

The paper examines protagonists' growth, internal versus external locus of control, gender boundaries, stereotypic “girl-ish” and negative behavior, and promotion of faux-maturity themes.

Sep 24, 2026

Upload by Đào