I designed a conversational guide in the form of a children’s book. The core messages relayed in this children’s book span identity, vulnerability, self-love, and more. Guardians can educate themselves on gender issues and media messaging on the website as well as self-reflect on their gender expectations through prompts designed as a precursor to reading the book with their children.
As opposed to using lecturing, this book facilitates the practice of listening. This communication is built into the narrative and allows the child to voice their ideas about these important topics. The typefaces and colors signal what is for the parent and what is for the child. The final page is a mirror for the readers to see themselves paired with the word “perfect.” Tandem growth of guardian and child is possible through the shared exploration and answering of the provided prompts. Guiding conversations through the many versions of boyhood creates a safe emotional space for introspection in the early developmental years. Educating on healthy gender expression (respectable human behavior) will hopefully break of the cycle of patriarchal exploitations of marginalized groups.
Illustrations curated from
Veronica Iezzi on Blush.Design
Veronica Iezzi on Blush.Design
