Insider vs. Outsider Debate

I do not feel that it is necessary for a person to be an insider or an outside to a culture to be able to write about the culture they chose to write about.

Prior to reading the articles, I would have definetly said that in order for an author to write about a particular culture they would have had to live it and know how a person of that culture feels deep deep down in their emotions. However, I have decided that in order to write a story about a culture you defiantly need to do your research and talk to all different people of that culture, but there is no reason an outsider could not do this just as well as an insider. Both would run the risk of writing stereotypes or making a mistake about some aspect of the culture just as both are able to succeed in writing an enlightening and enriching story about the culture.

I feel that books need to be judged by what is in them not by who the author is. As long as the author takes their time and works hard at writing an authentic text, it should make no difference if they are an insider or an outsider.

Introduction

My name is Katie and I am a senior in the elementary education program. Since I was very young my parents have always tried to introduce me to new cultures and diverse people and situations. They have expected me to make my own decisions about people and not to form opinions or stereotypes based on other peoples ideas and viewpoints. Because of this, I have always had an urge to learn more about cultures and groups of people I may not have the opportunity to interact with in my daily life. It is for this reason, that I have turned to literature and novels to learn more about diverse culture and people.
I am most interested in this class because I am hoping to broaden my horizons when it comes to children's literature. I think students learn best when the teacher puts subjects like history and science in the context of a story. Students usually become more engaged and want to learn more about the topic. I am hoping this class will teach me what to look for in diverse literature and what makes the book an appropriate and useful book for the classroom.