Mais où sont passés les pères? Un cas de censure sociale dans la littérature pour la jeunesse des années 80

Abstract

Claire le Brun analyzes how the father-figure evolved in various Quebec novels written between 1980 and 1990 by male and female authors. Almost all fathers, whether divorced, raising their children alone or still living with their wives, are, at worst, either inept or negative characters or, at best, "absentees " or nice wimps refusing to grow up. However, mothers do keep their traditional qualities while acquiring the positive aspects that used to be the privilege of male family heroes. Since there is no record of instructions to that effect given by editors or educators, it seems we are confronted with a case of cultural self-censorship.