Even at a young age, children have already begun to form aspirations for their future careers and these aspirations can be influenced by gender stereotypes in their environment (Struthers, 2015). Statements such as "girls can't be engineers" or "girls don't play in the construction corner" can discourage girls from pursuing careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).
To address this issue, organisations such as VVOB prioritise the integration of gender-responsive practices into the education system through gender-responsive pedagogy. This involves implementing practical strategies that teachers can use to eliminate gender stereotypes in early childhood education
Decorations in the classroom
Preschool teachers should assess the pictures and decorations in their schools to determine if they promote gender balance and inspiration for both boys and girls. Commonly found decorations that reinforce gender stereotypes, such as only male engineers at construction centers or only female chefs at cooking centers, can be observed in many preschools. By replacing these decorations with a more diverse range of male and female characters, the learning experiences of preschool children will be positively impacted and they will have the freedom to envision themselves in any role they choose without being limited by gender stereotypes. This will increase confidence in both boys and girls when selecting which learning corner they would like to join, according to Ms. Nhi, a teacher at Tra Phong preschool in Quang Ngai Province.
Gender-responsive language
Interactive language used in the classroom plays a crucial role in promoting gender equality and encouraging children to participate in learning activities without gender distinctions. For instance, instead of asking "Who wants to be male workers in the construction corner?" teachers can use gender-responsive language such as "Who wants to play in the construction corner?" This approach has been successfully applied by Ms. Tai, a preschool teacher in Quang Nam province, to encourage both boys and girls to participate in learning centres based on their interests.
Communication with parents and guardians
Parents and guardians play a crucial role in helping children overcome gender barriers and combat harmful gender stereotypes through the care and upbringing process. Teachers and school leaders can support families in this effort through regular communication on gender-responsive knowledge. These interactions can occur at convenient times such as parent meetings or during pick-up and drop-off times. Teachers can also provide families with information on gender-responsive practices through advertising materials. To achieve successful outcomes, such as parents changing long-standing gender stereotypes, a long-term commitment and support from preschool leaders and teachers is necessary.
Gender equality is crucial in creating a fair and sustainable world where girls have equal opportunities to pursue their careers without facing gender prejudice. March 8th is a significant day that celebrates important events that have advanced women's rights and equality. On this special day, VVOB wishes all women and girls the freedom to pursue their desired careers and dreams without encountering gender stereotypes or discrimination.
To learn more about gender-responsive pedagogy in preschool education, you can check out our toolkit (only available in Vietnamese).
References
Elif. P. (2021). Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science. https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/education-and-development/discussions/hap...
Struthers. K. (2015). Getting in early to avoid gender stereotyping careers. https://theconversation.com/getting-in-early-to-avoid-gender-stereotypin...
Note:
The sentence is translated to keep the full literally meaning when speaking in Vietnamese, usually in Vietnamese language many careers are attached with a specific gender, “Chú thợ xây” = “male worker
