The girl child is not a "hen that wants to be a cock": A short survey of the portrayal of the girl child in Alumenda's selected children's books.

This paper illustrates that Stephen Alumenda represents the girl-child in a positive way in four of his children’s books. The girl-child is portrayed as active, assertive, wise and independent. Alumenda satirises the patriarchal belief system that discriminates against and demeans the girl-child in society. Alumenda’s girl-child emerges dignified, proving that girls can do what boys do equally well if given the same opportunities. Through carefully crafted plots involving Marita, Tambudzai and \nThandiwe, the author demonstrates that children’s literature is an indispensable \nmedium which can be used to empower the girl-child.