Artifact Analysis I: Protector of the Small

Many children's books are written with a particular gender in mind. These books usually reinforce stereotypes and teach girls that these gender rolls are how they should be behaving. But sometimes an author comes along who refuses to continue telling girls that there is only one way that is appropriate for a woman to act, and creates a host of strong female characters with varied personalities that save the day with their own talents.

When I was a child, I was very aware that there were books for girls and books for boys. Nancy Drew was for girls, and Hardy Boys was for boys. Books about babysitters were for girls, and books about superheroes were for boys. Books about princesses were for girls, and books about knights were for boys. If there was a girl on the cover, it was for girls. If there was a boy on the cover, it was for boys. There were a few exceptions, but for the most part there were strict, unwritten rules about who was allowed to read what. Luckily for me, I had a wonderful third grade teacher and a dedicated school librarian that showed me early on that there were all kinds of books for anyone to enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was the first book I fell in love with that was neither a "girl book" nor a "boy book." It helped introduce me to a wonderful new world of literature that I otherwise may not have explored, and completely changed my life. This is a common story I have heard from countless other Harry Potter fans. For me, the story is a little different. It was not so much the story within the Harry Potter series that was so important to me. It was its use as an introduction to another author that was far more valuable to me.

(Source: tamora-pierce.com)

Tamora Pierce is the author of more than twenty-five books set in two distinct universes. I was introduced to the Tortall universe by my elementary school librarian through the first book in the Protector of the Small quartet. First Test tells the story of Keladry of Mindelan, the first girl to train as a knight since women were given the right to train as knights a decade before the start of the story. Training is not easy for her, and she has many challenges to overcome. Just as today women often have to work harder than men to prove themselves "worthy" of respect or inclusion in groups, Keladry has to complete a year's probation before she is allowed to be considered a true page, a requirement that had never been necessary of any boy page. Lord Wyldon of Cavall, the training master, is firmly against letting women train as knights. In his words: 

"Girls are fragile, more emotional, easier to frighten. They are not as strong in their arms and shoulders as men. They tire easily. This girl would get any warriors who serve with her killed on some dark night."

The other knights in training are clearly in agreement with Wyldon as Keladry is the target of relentless bullying and hazing. At first she has few friends, but as she stands up against a notorious bully and protects her fellow first years from over-the-top hazing she wins them over and gains their friendship. By the end of her first year she is able to complete every challenge set by her training master, earn his respect, and gain permission to stay and continue her knight training.

(Source: Tamora Pierce Wiki)

First Test was the first book I read that acknowledged that girls and boys are treated differently and set about explaining that it was not fair or okay.

"They ought to treat me the same. All I want is the same chance as the boys. No more, no less. That's right, isn't it?" -Keladry of Mindelan

 And unlike other stories, there is no "real girls vs. girly girls" in Pierce's books. Protector of the Small features a girl who enjoys fighting, but in the Circle of Magic series one of the main characters, Lady Sandraline fa Toren, is a feminine noble who proves to be every bit as strong and protective as Keladry, but through different methods. There is a bit towards the beginning of First Test that comments on the ridiculousness of the stereotype of women as weak and defenseless:

Instead [of commenting on Keladry changing into a dress] she pointed to yet another piece of writing [left by bullies]: Girls Can’t Fight! Salma’s mouth twisted wryly. "What do they think their mothers do, when the lords are at war and a raiding party strikes? Stay in their solars and tat lace?" 

That made Kel smile. "My aunt lit barrels of lard and had them catapulted onto Scanran ships this summer." 

"As would any delicately reared noblewoman."

Important feminist messages are tucked inside Tamora Pierce's amazing stories. But despite how wonderful these books are, it is difficult for me to convince people to give them a read. Some simply do not like fantasy novels. Some are bored by knights and fighting. Many refuse to take the books seriously because some are kept in the children's section of the library. (Children's literature is tragically ignored by most.) The most common objection from my male friends though is that they are "girl books" so they could not possibly enjoy them.

They tell me that they have no idea how to identify with female characters so they just avoid them. Meanwhile, I have been expected to empathize with male characters since I first learned how to read. The double standard is ridiculous, and keeps men from discovering fantastic books.

More dangerously, if a man cannot empathize with fictional women whose thoughts and motives are spelled out for him, how can he be expected to empathize with real women? We know that violence against women happens most easily when women are seen as objects instead of people. Not being able to identify with women is an early step towards not seeing women as fellow human beings.

"But, Pounce, this [making women and men eat at separate tables] is crackbrained," I told him in the same manner. "How do they expect folk to understand each other if they're separated when they aren't rushing about their work?" 

"They aren't expected to understand one another," he replied. "The women will learn to flirt over a friend's shoulder, instead of close. The men will see the women as distant and unknowable. Their friends will be only men. The women will see men as strong and unknowable. Their friends will be only women." 

-from Mastiff,  the third book in the Beka Cooper trilogy, a part of the Tortall universe.

Books like the Protector of the Small quartet shouldn't be easily dismissed as "girl books," and I highly recommend everyone gives them a chance regardless of the gender of the person on the cover. While Protector of the Small was my introduction to Tamora Pierce, I recommend starting with either the first series in the Tortall universe, The Song of the Lioness, or the first series in the Emelan universe, The Circle of Magic. This page lists all her books in order of publication. The Emelan universe is best read in publication order, but for the most part you can choose whichever series sounds the most interesting in the Tortall universe without encountering much confusion.