Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Business Administration
First Advisor
Albert Nylander
Second Advisor
JR Love
Third Advisor
Kenya Wolff
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This thesis explores the creation of a children’s picture book as a method of challenging Western perceptions of happiness, particularly the assumption that material abundance determines joy. Drawing from two service-based experiences with Zoe Ministries in Kitale, Kenya, the project centers on The Glad Rag, a picture book in which a single piece of fabric travels through many hands and becomes many useful items. Through this narrative, the book invites young readers to consider resourcefulness, gratitude, and joy that transcends circumstance.
The project uses a mixed-methods research approach. Primary data were gathered through participant observation and informal conversations on the ground. Secondary research includes scholarship on relative deprivation and well-being, consumerism and social comparison, and developmental research on how stories shape children’s beliefs and values. The thesis also documents the production process of the book, including visual research, illustration planning, and collaboration with an illustrator.
Community conversations and daily observations revealed that joy was frequently described through faith, family and community, meaningful work, and daily provision rather than through possessions or status. These insights support existing research suggesting that comparative thinking and materialistic values can erode well-being. Osman’s research led to this conclusion: individuals with strong materialistic values consistently report lower life satisfaction, increased anxiety, and diminished well-being. He continues to elaborate on the idea that pursuing material items undermines individuals’ intrinsic motivation, autonomy, sense of vitality, and mental well-being (Osman, 2024). This highlights how fulfillment is often undermined by social comparison rather than enhanced by material gain.
Ultimately, this thesis argues that children’s literature can serve as an educational tool for shaping cultural understanding at an early age. By presenting scenes of daily life in rural Kenya that emphasize faith, community, and resourcefulness, The Glad Rag challenges the narrow Western perception that joy is dependent on material abundance. Instead, the project highlights a perspective in which contentment and gratitude can exist even amid hardship. Through storytelling and visual imagery, the book invites young readers and their families to reconsider assumptions about happiness and to recognize the possibility of choosing joy regardless of circumstance.
Recommended Citation
Stockett, Sarah L., "Joy Beyond Circumstance: Crafting a Picture Book That Challenges Western Perceptions of Joy" (2026). Honors Theses. 3587.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3587
Included in
African Studies Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons
Comments
Explore the Mississippi-originated ministry: https://www.zoemeanslife.org/. This is the organization that gave me the experiences that inspired this work.