10 Oct 2023

Understanding Gender Bias in Early Years

“It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals”

– Emma Watson

We live in patriarchy, we take pride in patriarchy and we pass the culture of patriarchy to the coming generations by starting the bias since the birth of a baby by injecting the venom of gender bias through toys, fabric colour, activities, stories and anything and everything. Gender discrimination is visible in almost every facet of the society. It is utterly depressing that even the kids are taught and trained to be the slaves of this excruciating bias. If it’s patriarchy that’s engulfing a girl’s life, it is the senseless notions prevailing since generations that suffocates the male counterpart that men are not supposed to cry and should hide his emotions and be bold. The conditions of kids of all other genders except male and female are extremely pathetic. Those kids are even abandoned and mercilessly killed. At the end of the day, let’s just take a moment to ponder that we are all humans and gender comes only after that.

If the kids grow by being nourished with these senseless beliefs and in a biased environment where their sisters are asked to be prepping themselves to be the chef, care taker, gardener and an ideal wife and mom while the boy is asked to dream big and study more; Where girls could cry their eyes out but if the boy sheds a tear, it’s such a shame for the whole lineage; and those kids who happen to be born as genders other than the dominant genders of male & female are considered as bad luck, punishment by god or rather a shameful liability to family, it is pretty sure that generations to come will follow the same.

Now, let’s see how we can save at least the next generation from this.

• Maintain a bias free environment at pre-schools and schools so that the norms present in society related to gender bias won’t find an easy access in to the young minds.
• Also, give your child cars and dolls and let them choose what they like to play with. If your boy chooses a Barbie over a lorry, let him. There’s nothing wrong in that. Also, give something that arouses creativity in them like the building blocks.
• Let kids play together and sit together and don’t bring any kind of feeling among them that they are different. This will help remove the artificially brought up gender separation.
• Teach kids to respect each other as humans and not on the label of any gender.
• The hesitation or excitement that pops up when one goes to talk to a person of an opposite gender is been common and this inhibition roots from the gender bias and the traditional maladies that has inflicted generations demanding some conventional nature and attitude from specific genders. This can be avoided by organising activities where kids interact with each other. And try not to mislead them with senseless advices.
• The religious and community wise traditions which impart gender bias should be slowly wiped out. These things might get deeply imprinted in the young minds.
• Kids must be made aware of the misuse, harassment and sexual abuse happening around in the world in the way that they understand without scaring them. They must be prepared to protect themselves and this will also indirectly teach them to respect each other and don’t hurt people.
• Domestic violence and verbal abuse at home can also be a lesson that the child learn and the society will easily manipulate them to interpret what they see through the lens of gender discrimination. Stop that. Be aware of the language and the context of your argument when it happens in the presence of your child.
• When you take a glance on your children’s wardrobe, ensure that you shouldn’t be able to easily differentiate your son’s and daughter’s clothes. Try to give them unisex clothes and let them choose what they want. It’s not to wipe out the masculine or feminine varieties but to make your child capable to not to listen to the misogynists and critics who gets too upset about others’ clothing.

These are a few ways that can be made use of to completely wipe out the gender bias. Let’s forget the stereotypes and be not a typical that the present society expect of you regarding gender. It’s not to be a rebel rather to become a wise person. Gender stands out in terms of biology but not on any other aspects and that’s something the society should accept. Let’s pave way for bias free generations by teaching the kids to respect each other as humans and love each other as living beings.  

See Also: Why Social and Emotional Development is Important in Early Years?

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