Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology
Social norms and gender stereotypes in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students
Zeynep Demirtaş 1 * , Hilal Altıntaş 2
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1 Faculty of Education, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Türkiye
2 Institute of Educational Sciences, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Türkiye
* Corresponding Author
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ARTICLE INFO

Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, Online First, pp. -
https://doi.org/10.33902/JPSP.202647843

Article Type: Research Article

Published Online: 11 Aug 2026

Views: 3 | Downloads: 0

ABSTRACT
In this qualitative study, the social norms, moral values, behavioral patterns, and gender stereotypes reflected in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students were examined using document analysis. The study group consisted of 37 students (22 girls and 15 boys) from primary schools in three central districts of Bursa, a city in Türkiye's Marmara Region. Data were obtained from the students' fairy tales and analyzed using content analysis in Atlas.ti software for coding and categorization. The analysis yielded four interrelated themes—social norms, moral values, behavioral patterns, and social messages—that together reflect how the students made sense of their social world. Social norms and moral values occupied a prominent place in the students' narratives. Values such as helping, friendship, honesty, and justice appeared frequently across both groups, alongside messages emphasizing the triumph of good, correction of mistakes, cooperation, and social harmony. Behaviors involving reconciliation, communication, emotional expression, and relationship repair were proportionally more common in girls' fairy tales, while solutions centered on struggle, rescue, achievement, and physical strength were more prominent in boys' tales. Both groups, however, shared similar social and moral values, with no marked differences in behaviors such as forming friendships and cooperating. Overall, based on the study's findings, we suggest that children's fairy tales reveal how social norms, moral values, and gender roles are understood—reflecting not just social values but also children's own reinterpretation of them.
KEYWORDS
content analysis fairy tales gender stereotypes moral values primary school students social norms
In-text citation: (Demirtaş & Altıntaş, 2026)
Reference: Demirtaş, Z., & Altıntaş, H. (2026). Social norms and gender stereotypes in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPSP.202647843
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Demirtaş Z, Altıntaş H. Social norms and gender stereotypes in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2026. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPSP.202647843
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Demirtaş Z, Altıntaş H. Social norms and gender stereotypes in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2026. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPSP.202647843
In-text citation: (Demirtaş and Altıntaş, 2026)
Reference: Demirtaş, Zeynep, and Hilal Altıntaş. "Social norms and gender stereotypes in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology (2026). https://doi.org/10.33902/JPSP.202647843
In-text citation: (Demirtaş and Altıntaş, 2026)
Reference: Demirtaş, Z., and Altıntaş, H. (2026). Social norms and gender stereotypes in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPSP.202647843
In-text citation: (Demirtaş and Altıntaş, 2026)
Reference: Demirtaş, Zeynep et al. "Social norms and gender stereotypes in fairy tales written by fourth-grade primary school students". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 2026. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPSP.202647843
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