Approaching the Construction of Multimodal Masculinity in a Sample of Picture Books With Two-men Families

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to approach the representation of fathers and their construction of masculinity in a sample of picture books with two-father families published in the last decade, paying attention to the relationships between the image and the written text. Using some tools of critical discourse analysis, linguistic and visual patters of physical contact between the fathers and the child will be analysed in order to deconstruct masculinity and to determine if one of the fathers has a more affectionate relationship with the child. This research will also approach the main textual strategies used to portray and promote gay families. The methodology is qualitative. The discoursive analysis shows that, in the sample of picture books analysed, there are aspects related to new masculinities such as
representing both fathers doing domestic tasks or taking care of the child, which will have a positive influence on children’s education and socialization.