What does gender equity mean for early years practitioners? What are early years settings already doing to promote gender equality, and why is this so important? How can we provide children with a solid basis from which they can grow into people who are not limited by society’s expectations of their gender?
This is a manual for every early years practitioner who wishes to expand their knowledge and improve their practice around gender stereotyping in the early years. Drawing from the authors’ experience developing a public health programme tackling gender stereotypes, it explores the reasons why gender inequality is still an issue, identifies the ways it is perpetuated and provides a framework and practical tools to drive change. The framework includes an audit process to celebrate areas of success and to identify areas for development, alongside a host of suggestions on how to navigate tricky situations in creative, respectful and effective ways.
With the voices and experiences of experts and practitioners woven throughout, alongside key reflections and scenarios to critically engage with, Challenging Gender Stereotypes in the Early Years challenges readers to consider their own practice, drive staff awareness and make a difference to their setting.
Author(s): Susie Heywood, Barbara Adzajlic
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 224
City: London
Cover
Endorsement
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
An Important Note On Safety and Self-Care
Introduction
Note
Part 1
1 Key Concepts and Definitions
Sex and Gender
Gender Equality and Gender Inequality
(Gender) Equity
Intersectional Inequality
Stereotypes
Some Final Definitions
A Public Health Approach
A Whole Setting Approach
Audit
Notes
2 Gender Inequality: What Are We Getting Right?
Equalities Law
Guidance for the Early Years Sector
Good Practice: Organisations and Initiatives
Good Practice in Education and Early Years
There Is Still Work to Be Done
Notes
3 Young Brains Gender, Sex and Child Development
Boy Brain/Girl Brain?
A Bit of Brain Science and a Bit About Hormones … Is It All Down to Biology?
Developmental Stages
Birth to 24 Months: Gender Labelling
Three to Five Years: Gender Stability and Gender Constancy
Five and Over: Gender Compliance
What Does This Mean for Early Years Practitioners?
Notes
4 How Gender Stereotypes Are Reinforced
Children’s Television
Animated Movies
Stories and Books
The Toy Industry
Clothing
As We Get Older
The Music Industry
Social Media
Pornography
Gaming
The Fashion and Beauty Industry
It’s Not Just Media …
Don’t Be Disheartened!
Notes
Part 2
5 What’s the Harm?
Upstream Approach
Gender Boxes
It’s All Connected … the Allport Scale
Notes
6 Violence Against Women and Girls
What Is Violence Against Women and Girls?
The Impact of VAWG
What’s the Link With Gender Stereotypes?
Victim Blaming
#NotAllMen
What Can You Do?
Notes
7 Man Up! Gender Stereotypes and Male Violence
The Impact of the “Man Box” On Boys and Men
Teaching Boys to Be Men
Children and Violence
Examining Male Violence in Adulthood
Men’s Violence Against Themselves
What Can We Do?
Notes
8 Gendered Bodies
Idealised Bodies
What’s the Harm?
Eating Disorders
What Does This Mean for Early Years?
What Can We Do?
Notes
9 Parent Pressure
A Delicate Balance: Becoming a Parent
The Emotional Toll
Including Dads
Role Model Pressure
What Can We Do?
Notes
10 Sexuality and Gender Identity The Pressure to Conform
How Do Gender Stereotypes Contribute to Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia?
Too Early for the Early Years?
What Can We Do in Early Years to Promote Acceptance of LGBT+ People?
What Do We Do When a Child Is Gender Non-Conforming?
What Else Can We Do to Promote LGBT+ Inclusion in Early Years?
Useful Resources
Notes
11 Learning, Working, Earning
Before We Go Any Further …
How Do Gender Stereotypes Impact On Children’s Self-Belief and Aspirations: Who Thinks They Are Really, Really Smart?
How Do Gender Stereotypes Impact Educators?
Careers
Case Study: Women in Intensive Care Medicine
Case Study: Men in Childcare
What Can We Do?
Notes
12 Mental Health
Girls’ and Boys’ Mental Health Statistics
Why the Difference?
What Can We Do?
Top Tips for Promoting Good Mental Health
Notes
13 Gender and the Early Years Workforce
Is a Gender-Balanced Workforce Important?
Barriers to a Gender-Balanced Workforce
Increasing All Kinds of Diversity
The Most Under-Appreciated Workforce?
Is a Female-Dominated Workforce a Female-Friendly Workforce?
Professionalising the Workforce: Possible Pitfalls
What Can We Do?
Notes
Part 3
14 Auditing Your Practice
Key Principles
Action Planning
Inspiration
Note
15 Bias, and How to Get Over It!
But I’m Not Biased!
Okay, So Maybe I Do Have Unconscious Bias … But Where Does It Come From?
What Can We Do About It?
Watch Out for Cognitive Dissonance!
Tackling Bias in Children
Creating Moral Rebels
Notes
16 Equitable Practice
An Unusual Education: The Hjalli Model
The Egalia Model
What Can We Learn From These Approaches?
Intersectional Equity
How Can We Incorporate Equity Into Our Settings?
Notes
17 What Parents Can Do and How to Get Them On Board
Why Is It Important to Engage Parents On This Issue?
Communicate
Offer Some Training and Awareness
Help People to Find Their “Whys” …
Lean In
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
Be Ready to Learn From Parents and Carers
Respect Individuals’ Circumstances But Don’t Accept the Unacceptable!
… If All Else Fails
Frequently Asked Questions From Practitioners
Frequently Asked Questions That Parents May Ask You – Or That Parents Reading This Might Ask
Notes
18 Practice Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Boy in a Dress and an Unhappy Parent
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 2: Parental Concern Around LGBT+ Discussions
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 3: Boys Don’t Cry
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 4: Responding to Conflict
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 5: Boys Vs Girls
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 6: Concerns About Male Staff in the Nursery
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 7: Referring to Staff as “The Girls”
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 8: It’s Not for Girls
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 9: Sword and Gun Play
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 10: Addressing Racism in the Nursery
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 11: The Focus On Girls’ Appearance
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 12: Use of Pet Names
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 13: Gender Non-Conforming Children
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Scenario 14: Marriage Talk
Questions for Reflection
Discussion
Possible Responses
Further Reading
Notes
19 A Call to Action
Appendix 1 Action Checklist
Appendix 2 Audit Table
Appendix 3 Further Information
Safety and Support Information
Mental Health
Gender-based Violence
Eating Disorders
LGBT+ Support
Parenting Helplines
Useful Organisations
Useful Film Clips
Children and Gender Stereotypes
Gender-based Violence
Masculinity, Violence and Men’s Mental Health
Femininity
Body Image
LGBT+
Education and Career Pathways
Recommended Reading
Glossary
Index
