Why Book Bans Matter

by Lily

It is a truth universally acknowledged that literature has the power to sway opinions and impact lives. Whether someone reads one book a year or 100 books a year, it is more likely that a book has changed his or her perspective on the world at some point in time. Recently, in American politics, mainly within school districts and libraries, books have become a particular point of contention; book bans are occurring with increasing frequency. Book bans are a dangerous form of censorship because they limit access to ideas, stifling critical thinking and personal growth in young adults. When books are banned, especially those addressing complex or controversial topics, it deprives individuals of the opportunity to develop empathy, understand history, and form their own opinions, narrowing their perspectives and perpetuating ignorance. Over time, book bans undermine intellectual freedom, hinder progress, and weaken the foundation of democracy.

Politically fueled restrictions on literature have existed for centuries; Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice, a popular book and author these days, weren't always so well received. Throughout literary history, female authors might not have been entirely excluded, but they were often quickly dismissed. In the 1800s, American women had a strong position in the literary market; despite this it was not until recently that their work was acknowledged by scholars (Gillespie). In Austen’s case, her works were viewed as radical feminist writings until the early 1900s. During Austen’s time, female authors were often censored and poorly paid. Because women were confined to the domestic sphere, many of their writings portrayed stereotypical female themes and roles, and they often had to take on pen names to circumvent this censorship (Peterson). Despite this, these authors, like Austen, Wollstonecraft, Shelley, and the Brontë sisters, would cement themselves in the literary canon and pave the way for not only women in literature but also the science fiction and gothic genres.

In modern times, literary censorship in the United States exists mainly in the form of book bans. In schools and libraries across the country, religious leaders, and parents alike have challenged and censored certain themes and books. These books typically include LGBTQ+ characters, themes of racism or oppression, and other “political” messages. One of these books, All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson, was challenged in the state of Iowa for what Iowa Senate President Jake Chapman described as a “sinister agenda to normalize sexually deviant behavior, including pedophilia” (Coleman). This book, which was written as a supportive handbook for LGBT/trans youth in Iowa, is now illegal in classrooms and school libraries across the state. Another example of a commonly banned book is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This book series contains heavy themes of political dissent, geopolitics, society, and gender. By presenting these things through a complex dystopian story, these books also give young adults a platform to question these themes (Kirby), maybe even before realizing how much they apply to their own lives and the real world. In The Hunger Games, Katniss (the main character) isn't restricted by her gender and often actively resists our world’s gender roles; she is her family’s sole provider and takes on this role again within the arena as she provides for Peeta (the other main character). Beyond feminism, The Hunger Games is also extremely critical of the government and mass media, often in situations that clearly parallel the actions of our own government in the United States. Attempts to ban this book series show a clear attempt to prevent children from questioning the government. This is especially clear if you see the ways Americans have become desensitized to United States-funded violence in the Middle East and the way this parallels Capitol views of District cruelty in The Hunger Games (Rosenberg). In a society that has benefitted so much from the profits of mass media and over-dramatized news sources, it is unsurprising that many would attempt to censor dissenters, even if those dissenters are young adult dystopian novels.

These bans might seem like they have been contained on a relatively small scale in rural areas. However, they can have a butterfly effect that stretches all the way to politics on a national and international scale. And, even on a smaller scale, can have a profound impact on people’s lives, especially the lives of young people easily susceptible to hateful rhetoric. When the American Library Association conducted a three-month study on book bans across the United States, there were 155 unique censorship incidents found. In those three months there were more censorship attempts reported than in the entire year of 2020 (Rehn). Recently many of these book bans seem to target similar things: LGBTQ+ themes, and “critical race theory.”. Coupled with increased pushback against Trans and LGBT+ protection laws and violence against Americans of color, this points to a troubling shift in “American values.”. In Iowa, these once “isolated” book bans have now moved towards legislation that outright bans teaching about homophobia, systematic racism, and transphobia (Coleman). This points towards book bans as a clear first step towards widespread censorship. These steps towards censorship and hatred become even clearer when links between book bans and bans on gender-neutral bathrooms, gender-affirming care, and trans women in women's sports appear at a state level (Coleman). Media censorship is an obvious characteristic of any authoritarian regime, so dangerous because it not only makes it difficult to access certain information but also creates a culture where citizens do not find it necessary to ask for this information in the first place, which could lead to  the government’s complete control over a whole population's understanding of the world. 

As we move through the next couple of years, it is likely we will see more and more cases of book bans in school districts around the United States. These are one of the earliest and most dangerous forms of censorship; what might seem like a few too many book bans can and will lead to widespread ignorance and hatred. To protect our children and their futures, we must all take a stand against censorship in any form. Simply attending school and library board meetings can be one of the most effective ways to prevent book bans in your area. 

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Works Cited

Chen, Yuyu, and David Y. Yang. “The Impact of Media Censorship: 1984 or Brave New World?” 

The American Economic Review, vol. 109, no. 6, 2019, pp. 2294–332. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26737888. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024..

Clausen, Christopher. "Jane Austen Changes Her Mind." The American Scholar, vol. 68, 

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Coleman, James Joshua, and Petra Lange. "A Two-Year Timeline to Anti-LGBTQ+ Book Bans in America's Heartland: This article provides strategies for English teachers to resist book-banning education policies in their local contexts." English Journal, vol. 113, no. 6, July 2024, pp. 25+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A813057098/AONE?u=corningcc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=b41bf9f4. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Gillespie, Nick. "Literature Lost: Social Agendas and the Corruption of the Humanities." 

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Kirby, Philip. “The Girl on Fire: The Hunger Games , Feminist Geopolitics and the 

Contemporary Female Action Hero.” Geopolitics, vol. 20, no. 2, Apr. 2015, pp. 460–78. 

EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2014.984835.

Peterson, Linda H., editor. “Victorian Women Writers’ Careers.” The Cambridge Companion to Victorian Women’s Writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015. 13–86. Print. Cambridge Companions to Literature.

Rehn, Jensen. "BATTLEGROUNDS FOR BANNED BOOKS: THE FIRST AMENDMENT 

AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES." Notre Dame Law Review, vol. 98, no. 3, Mar. 2023, pp. 1405+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A747379057/AONE?u=corningcc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=0cd22704. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Rosenberg, Alyssa. "'The Hunger Games' warned us that reality TV would take over our 

politics." Washington Post, 13 July 2016. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A457904175/AONE?u=corningcc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=ba46b23b. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.