Gender Bias

Q: What do these have in common? Winnie the Pooh, Thomas the Tank Engine, Rupert the Bear, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam, Spot the Dog, Pingu, Noddy, Bob the Builder….

A: They all have male leading and supporting roles, and subordinate female roles. What effect could this imbalance have on the minds of our young children?

• Why do boys seem more aggressive than girls?
• Why do girls like fairy outfits?
• Is it nature or nurture???
• Are you aware of prejudice at your child’s pre-school?
• How are the needs of children, staff or parents with disabilities and met at your child’s pre-school/school?
• Do you think young children have opinions?
• How sensitive and tolerant are the carers/teachers and children to individual differences?
• Why don’t girls and boys play together at school?
• Look at the resources and equipment used at school/pre-school…is there a conscious attempt to understand and challenge stereotypes and to represent and allow for cultural and physical diversity?
• What effects do the terms like ‘tomboy’ and ‘cissy’ have on children?
• How do the staff and children at your pre-school deal with race, even if there are no black children or staff/caregivers immediately present?
• How supportive would you be to the (lone) male caregiver at your child’s nursery?
• How do cultural background, gender or disabilities affect when and how you set limits… how and when do you say ‘no’?
• Barbie is glamorous and Action Man is a fighting hero…why do children get into them? Are these the role-models that we want for our girls and boys?
• How do the boys in your care and the girls in your care express anger?

Q: How can we work for change?

A: …we don’t claim to know all the answers, but the Jill and Jack discussion pages will be thought provoking, stimulating and safe space to gather one’s thoughts and set personal wheels in motion for change…

Come to our event at Tarner Children's Centre on 25th February 2012;  the focus is gender stereotyping in childrens' play.

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