Children adopt certain roles and behaviors as part of their socialization process (Tsao, 2008). They begin to create their own identities and one element that influences this identity is the literature that children read or what is read to them (Allen, Allen, & Sigler, 1993).
However, our children are listening to stories that enforce gender biases and stereotypes. For example, according to Ernst (1995), girls are usually portrayed as sweet, naive, conforming, and dependent. In contrast, male characters are usually aggressive, physically strong, possess a sense of adventure, and are able to function in complete independence. Being told all these biased stories, children cannot fully respect all genders, or embrace who they truly are regardless of their genders.
More research at https://www.ericdigests.org/1999-3/gender.htm
Why this issue?
I was inspired by a recent incident in Taiwan.
Recently, a Taiwanese boy complained that wearing pink masks to school is embarrassing because “boys don’t wear pink”. Health officials, all male, then wore pink masks to the daily press conference, emphasizing that masks can protect one another regardless of color.
Numerous brands then started to respond on social media by changing profile pictures to pink versions and hashtag #colorhasnogender. As shown by this incident, we know that while most people are aware that bias should be eliminated, they still exist especially within the younger generation. In Taiwan, most kids wear school uniforms which the styles and colors often “match” the biological sex of the kids.
Like all stereotypes, gender stereotypes start from a very young age. Without proper education, children will grow up into biased adults, just like most adults are now. Children are the future; if they can be educated into unbiased adults, we can expect a future where there are less discrimination and inequality.
Can storybooks really break children's gender stereotypes?
In one study, 2–5-year-olds who were read a storybook about a same-sex child engaged in play with a gender-atypical (meaning usually linked to an opposite sex) toy immediately showed increased play with gender-atypical toys (e.g. girl participant hears a story about a girl playing with a dump truck and immediately increases play with trucks; Ashton, 1983).
Nhundu's study of Zimbabwean girls enrolled in 4th through 7th grade found that girls exposed to biographical stories of women succeeding in non-traditional careers not only reported that there were no jobs appropriate only for men or only for women, but also reported altering their own future career plans from gender-typical to gender-atypical. (2007)
More research at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00986/full
How are others tackling the issue?
Let Toys be Toys: A grassroots campaign, asking the toy and publishing industries to stop limiting children’s interests by promoting some toys and books as only suitable for girls, and others only for boys.
Organizations (such as Girl Scout) also tackle the issue by educating parents and teachers, providing advice such as:
Give kids a wide variety of toys
Use gender-neutral words instead of “girls” and “boys”
Make sure kids play with a mix of boys and girls
Introduce female role models
Make sure there aren’t ‘girls’ jobs and ‘boys’ jobs
Pick other ways to divide up the children
Stories with characters that don’t fit the stereotypes:
Nate has the heart of a dancer, and he is determined to learn ballet. Even his older brother, Ben, can’t change his mind with his claims that “boys don’t dance.” Or can he? When Ben tells Nate that he’ll have to wear pink shoes and a dress, Nate becomes awfully worried. And when he’s the only boy in his ballet class, he begins to think that Ben is right: Maybe boys don’t dance. (Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley)
Violet is a young princess who wishes she could show the world that she is just as brave and strong as her brothers. But her strict father insists that she get married, and her brothers only mock her when she wants to be included in their fun. So Violet decides to use her intelligence and bravery to show everyone–once and for all–what she’s made of. Disguising herself as a boy, Violet takes part in a knights’ jousting tournament. When she wins the contest, she reveals her true identity–and wins the prize of freedom! (The Princess Knight by Cornella Funke)
Stories that teach children to embrace their true selves:
It’s okay to need some help. It’s okay to be a different color. It’s okay to talk about your feelings. (It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr)
Meet Red, a blue crayon with a red label. Everyone calls him Red, well, because that’s what his label says. Following this logic, everyone expects him to draw in red, but as much as Red tries he can’t draw anything red. Some people say he just needs more practice. Others think he is just not that bright. Then one day, a friend asks him to draw her an ocean for her boat, and he’s great at it! After this, he realizes his label was wrong. He’s not Red, he’s Blue! Once his peers recognize he is a blue crayon, they praise his drawing abilities and call him brilliant. Blue himself draws proudly in blue from then on. (Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall)
What is my approach?
Campaign goal
Let people realize how serious gender stereotypes are in children’s books
Encourage readers to be critical toward existing stories and turn to gender-neutral stories
Encourage storytellers to create stories without bias
Increase overall awareness of gender stereotypes
Final look
Children are shaped into who they are as adults starting at a very young age. They learn about the world and their identities from books and fairytales. Yet do you know that those stories are often enforcing gender biases and stereotypes?
Let our children be who they truly are.
Remove stereotypes from children's books.
Find gender-neutral & LGBTQ-friendly children's books here:
What's next?
