From scraped knees to stubbed toes, pain is part of every childhood. Yet a new study from the University of South Australia suggests that the way pain is shown in children’s picture books could be shaping how boys and girls learn to deal with it.
After analysing hundreds of popular picture books, researchers found that pain or injury appeared in around one in five stories. Most incidents involved everyday accidents—bumps, grazes, or falls—but what stood out was how differently these experiences were portrayed for boys and girls.
Boys were more likely to experience pain than girls, while girls were more likely to cry when they did. When it came to helping others, boys were usually shown offering advice or trying to fix the problem, while girls tended to comfort and support—patterns that echo long-standing ideas about masculinity and care.
Lead researcher Dr Sarah Wallwork says picture books, while a staple of early learning, can sometimes reinforce outdated expectations. “Shared reading provides important opportunities for young children to understand the world, including what to do when injured or in pain, or to have empathy and provide assistance when another may be hurt,” she says.
“When picture books show boys brushing off injuries or girls tending to others, we risk reinforcing narrow social scripts about empathy, resilience, and care. Children internalise what they see. When boys are presented as stoic, it may encourage them to conceal their pain – a behaviour that has been linked to an increased vulnerability to pain later in life. Similarly, when girls are consistently portrayed as carers, it reinforces expectations that empathy and nurturing are ‘female’ traits.”
The study also noted that acts of kindness or help were rare overall. Most characters were bystanders when someone got hurt, and when they did help, it was usually through physical assistance rather than emotional comfort.
Co-researcher and PhD candidate Dur-E-Nayab Mehar says parents and educators can help counter these messages by turning story time into conversation. “By being mindful of the stories we share, we can start meaningful conversations with children about empathy, care and how to respond to others when they are injured or in pain,” she says. “Asking questions like ‘How do you think that character feels?’ or ‘What else could they do to help?’ can open up valuable discussions about both physical and emotional support.”
The researchers hope that by encouraging more balanced portrayals of pain and empathy, future picture books will help children grow up seeing compassion and emotional honesty as human traits—not gendered ones.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of South Australia, which will soon merge with the University of Adelaide to form Adelaide University in 2026. The new institution aims to build on the strengths of both universities to deliver research and teaching on a larger scale.
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