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Gender Equality

What is it?

An ethos of gender equality is one in which we recognise every individual as having the same rights, status, and opportunities as others, regardless of gender. Adopting such an ethos allows a setting to break down gender stereotypes from a young age and ultimately helps to lessen the possibility of inequality and/or discrimination. Furthermore, by creating an ethos of gender equality, we can support children to grow into adults who are not limited by expectations based on their sex but can broaden their aspirations and be more aware of and open to a wider, fuller range of opportunities.

Key messages:

Practitioners understand gender bias and its harmful impact on children.
Practitioners have a clear understanding of what unconscious biases exist in their own practice, of others, and in society as a whole.
Practitioners understand that children are influenced by their environment, the adult role models around them, learning from everything they see, hear and do.
Practitioners actively challenge stereotyping views from children and other adults through their interactions and respectful discussion.
Practice does not demonstrate any gender stereotyping. All resources, activities, and experiences are accessible to every child regardless of gender.
Children have the opportunity and are encouraged to access all areas of the curriculum, regardless of gender.
The setting values diversity so that children are accepted and valued, whatever their gender.
Parents and carers have a role in developing social attitudes towards gender when developing an approach to tackling gender inequality.

Ways we can do this:

Human rights (children’s rights) and the UNCRC are central to the setting’s vision, values, aims and ethos.

Practitioners read the guidance, watch videos, read good practice examples, attend training, and discuss these with colleagues.

Practitioners could meet to discuss and reflect on their own unconscious biases and talk through the reflective questions found in the Gender Equal Play (Care Inspectorate, 2018, p. 7).

Create a Gender Equality Policy (guidance available in the Gender Equal Play, Care Inspectorate, 2018, p. 13). This helps ensure consistency of practice across the service and makes a statement to parents around your service’s values and commitments. It will also help practitioners think about their role, contribution and practice.

Through interactions:

Use neutral and inclusive language, such as “Hello everyone/children” rather than “Hello boys and girls.”
Use inclusive pronouns such as they/them/theirs.
Compliment a girl because she has achieved something and not because of how she looks.
Replace “mankind” with “humanity”, “man-made” with “synthetic/manufactured/machine-made”, “Mr Squirrel” with “Squirrel”, “Fireman” with “Firefighter”, “Policeman” with “Police Officer”.

Children are encouraged to explore society’s thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and beliefs about gender stereotyping in everyday life; whilst reading a story, practitioners can challenge stereotypes through questioning. For example, “Should the prince always be the one to save the princess? Could the princess save the prince?”, “Is it always the mum who looks after the baby?” Suggest “rewriting” the story together.

Turn gender bias challenges into a discussion instead of a criticism. Ask the children why they think that way, explain why stereotypical or prejudiced comments are unacceptable and get deeper into why they feel that way.

Practitioners provide children with environments that encourage non-gendered norms and expectations to feel more accepted and celebrated for their individuality. For example, choosing toys by avoiding the blue/pink stereotypes, removing ready-made dressing-up and role-play costumes (as these are often gender-biased) and offering a variety of general clothes that children can use creatively.

Carry out an audit for your environment (Gender Equal Play, Care Inspectorate, 2018, p. 8) with other adults and children in your setting.

Be open to conversations with children who begin to question their own gender, feelings of gender and support them with empathy and respect.

Share a Gender Equality Policy with parents. Through family learning, support gender equality by raising awareness of how stereotypes limit children. Support your colleagues to respond consistently to sexist comments from parents and children and make sure no communications with parents and carers imply caring duties are solely women’s responsibility.