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Gender Roles in School
March 24, 2017 l Adriana Mercuri
Society has established several stereotypes that puts a strain on how each gender should act. In Early Childhood Education, children are challenged because they are always told how they should act. Most people like to enforce the traditional roles of men and women on children. The early gender bias experiences that children encounter can shape their:
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Attitudes and beliefs related tot heir development of interpersonal and inrapersonal relationships
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Access to education equality
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Participation in the corporate work world, as well as
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Stifling their physical and psychological well being
For Early Childhood Educators, being aware of the effects of gender stereotypes is particularly critical, because concepts of gender identity are sometimes placed on children even before they are born, with the selection of paint colours for the nursery. Early Childhood Educators must encourage children to take on the role they choose and traditional roles should not be made important in the classroom. If a boy wants to be a Princess, he should be able to be a Princess. If a girl wants to be a Superhero, she should be able to be a Superhero. there shouldn't be a restriction on what children can do.
The boy in this picture wearing a Snow White dress seems very happy. Isn't that what its all about? being happy? Isn't that what dressing up is meant for? To pretend to be something you're not?
Children should be given the opportunity to explore themselves in their daily lives. the early years are the years that children begin to share themselves and form an identity. For this, they should be the ones deciding on how they want to act and who they want to be.
In this video Dyson loves wearing dresses. He would rather dress up asa girl as opposed to dressing up as a Ninja Turtle. At one point in the video Dyson says that wears dresses makes him happy. Isn't this what is important? Making your child happy? His mother continuously tells him dresses are for girls, but Dyson doesn't listen. He knows what he wants and nothing will stop him. For this, I believe that although it is not what they want for their child, parents should give their children the freedom to make their own choices. In addition, educators should encourage parents to allow their children to make their own choices.
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