Cultivating Images of Cultural Capital: Cultural Activities in Storybooks Featuring Young Characters with Disabilities

Abstract

Portrayals of children and youths with disabilities participating in various types of cultural activities during their leisure time have been understudied. The current study aims to understand how Swedish storybooks targeting youths and children with disabilities portray their cultural activities during their leisure time. A collection of 66 storybooks was strategically chosen for the analysis. Applying the grounded theory approach, the study codes for disabilities (sensory, physical, and cognitive) and dimensions of cultural capital (book reading, music, theatre, concerts, and sports). Low cultural activities are prominent leisure activities in the story books. Watching television and listening to popular music had a prominent role for the characters, whereas sports had a less prominent role. In summary, watching television dominates the cultural activities in the storybooks. With regards to music, the participants engage in karaoke. The storybooks again reinforce the impression that characters with disabilities can only appreciate lowbrow culture. The storybooks seldom portray images of highbrow cultural activities. However, exceptions exist that portray how people with disabilities create highbrow cultural activities, rather than being passive consumers. The storybooks seldom portray images of sports activities.