Book Bans: An Ineffective Infringement of Freedom

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, published in 1999, follows Charlie, an introverted high schooler, as he navigates friendships, relationships, and a traumatic past. From 2006 to 2023,  it appeared on the American Library Association's annual list of top ten challenged books 8 times. The main reasons cited for these challenges were sexual explicitness, drugs, rape, profanity, and LGBTQ+ content. In an elementary school library, this may seem valid, save for the last point. However, Wallflower was most often banned in middle schools, high schools, and public libraries. Given that, in the U.S., 1 in 5 women experience completed or attempted rape in their lifetime, such a topic should not be censored. To prevent children from learning about one of the most prevalent crimes in the country where they reside is to ensure that they will not be as informed or educated on such a topic. 

This example reflects a broader trend in the United States, as from 2023 to 2024, more than 10,000 books were banned in US public schools, marking a significant increase from years prior. One of the most prevalent claims supporting the national increase in book bans is that parents want to have more control over their children's education. Through this claim, supporters of book bans have effectively halted access to hundreds of thousands of books. The term book ban often leads many to believe that books are being entirely banned from public access; however, in the United States, it typically refers to the banning of books from public schools and libraries, with those books still available through other channels. While this may make book bans seem like a less severe issue, public education is a cornerstone of American democracy, and book bans present a looming threat to such. Book bans, though theoretically giving parents control over their children's education, create social and socioeconomic inequalities. Additionally, the increasing prevalence of the internet prevents book bans from being an effective method of parental control. 

The majority of the books being banned in the United States involve LGBTQ+ characters and discussions of race and ethnicity, which many have cited as things they do not see fit for children. From the 2023 to 2024 school year, 44% of the books banned included people of color, while 39% included LGBTQ+ characters. The idea that LGBTQ+ stories are inherently sexual perpetuates a stereotype that is harmful to the societal understanding of sexuality as something that can be completely unrelated to the act of sexual intercourse. The leading state in book bans is Florida, accounting for 40% of all the book bans in the US. Regarding these sweeping bans, the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, stated that “You have some groups that want to take away classic books like ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ but they want things like ‘Gender Queer: A Memoir,’ which is a cartoon-style book with graphic images of children performing sexual acts… They want to eliminate ’Of Mice and Men,’ but ‘Lawn Boy,’ a book containing explicit passages of pedophilia, is somehow accepted.” This quote by DeSantis is prototypical of many arguments for book bans, but it is also easily discounted. To compare To Kill a Mockingbird to Gender Queer: A Memoir is ironic in the way that Texas, the state with the second most book bans, actually banned To Kill a Mockingbird for its use of sexually explicit language. Furthermore, the authors of Lawn Boy and Gender Queer: A Memoir stated that their books are not intended for younger audiences, with a warning of possible sexually explicit content. Finally, this quote makes it seem as though these books are banned to the same extent, despite the fact that To Kill a Mockingbird has only been banned in California, in contrast to the other books consistently being in the top banned books across multiple states. While parents have a right and a responsibility to protect their kids, protecting them from things that will surround them in their day-to-day life will ultimately cause more harm. 

There is a widespread misconception about the term book ban regarding the actual complete banning of books; however, in reality, book bans in the US are only applied to public schools and public libraries. Those who are lucky enough to attend private school or are able to purchase books will not be impacted by these bans. In 2023, the American Library Association found that nearly half of the 1900 individual book challenges between January and August occurred in public libraries, a significant increase from the previous year. In an interview with the New York Times, Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the A.L.A.’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, stated that “A year, a year and a half ago, we were told that these books didn’t belong in school libraries, and if people wanted to read them, they could go to a public library. Now, we’re seeing those same groups come to public libraries and come after the same books, essentially depriving everyone of the ability to make the choice to read them.” This attack on a fundamental part of the United States' public library system and the exponential increase in book bans represent the issue’s increasing relevance. While many of the arguments around book bans began as arguments regarding children and the protection of children from sexual innuendos, they have quickly intensified into attacks on any book that might challenge preconceived notions. This is especially important in terms of socioeconomic equality, because it will create a knowledge gap between people of different incomes or classes. As of May 2025, Texas has the second-highest poverty rate, with over 4.1 million residents living below the poverty line. Florida comes in at the third-highest poverty rate, with over 2.8 million residents living below the poverty line. For an individual living in the United States, the poverty line is an annual income of $15,650; for a family of four, it is an annual income of $31,200. At both of these rates, one would barely be able to afford rent and food, much less any personally bought books. Unfortunately, Florida and Texas are the top two states in book bans, in addition to being two of the top three most impoverished states. This attack on an individual's fundamental right to knowledge is intensified when examining it in the context of accessibility. The states where public libraries are most necessary are also the states where these public libraries are being attacked.

One of the most cited arguments by those in favor of book bans is a parent's right to control what their child learns. This argument can evoke sympathy from many; however, those in such a position often forget to cite the increasing exposure children have to adult topics due to the internet. In 2021, 97% of all 3 to 18-year-olds in the United States had access to the internet. Furthermore, one study by Common Sense Media found that, whether intentionally or accidentally, 73% of teens had seen pornography by the age of 17, 54% by the age of 13, and 15% by the age of 10. This reflects a significant loss of control regarding children's access to adult topics due to the prominence of the internet in daily life. While in the ideal world of many parents, a parent could control what their child learns and when they learn it, contemporary society will not allow such. Whether it be on the internet, on a billboard, or in a book, children are increasingly at risk of being exposed to adult topics. Rather than living in fear of a book or an internet advertisement exposing your children to such topics, it is beneficial to be proactive in having conversations with children regarding topics like sex or drugs. Mayo Clinic recommends discussing consent at age 5 and explaining sex between the ages of 9 and 11. While it makes sense to bar explicit books from elementary school libraries, to ban such books from other libraries is to take away an individual's right to an education. Topics like gender and sexual orientation are not topics of sex but of personal identity. Furthermore, to prevent your child from learning about such is to hinder their education in topics of current events.

The increasing prominence of book bans at the state level represents a subsequent increase in unrest regarding new ideologies in American society. This movement to gain control over what books are in public libraries is generally spearheaded by parents. It is undeniable that there is an increasing loss of control in children’s education, but such a loss of control stems from the prominence of the internet, not literature. The fight against literature is not effective in preventing children from learning about race and sexuality, as they are bound to learn about such regardless. In order to truly educate a child in a productive manner, parents should be proactive in conversations regarding such topics.

DomesticLiza WebbComment