No more boys or girls: Can our kids go gender-free?

Goals

Explore what our gender biases are, as adults, when interacting with boys and girls ;
Look at strategies to break down gender stereotypes with students, in the classroom.
No more boys or girls: Can our kids go gender-free?

Brief description of the issue

According to neurological studies, boys’ and girls’ brains, apart from the areas controlling our reproductive functions, are the same. However, as early as the age of 7, we can see significant differences between boys and girls in terms of emotional literacy, spatial awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence. How is that possible?

A researcher decided to work with a classroom of 7 year-olds in the UK to see if he could minimize the differences between boys and girls by putting in place some activities and strategies to redraw the balance.

Watch this documentary with your working team and have a discussion together! Here are a few reflection questions:

  • What are your first reactions after seeing the two episodes?
  • Is the situation the same in your workplace?
  • Have you ever tried some of these strategies with children you are working with?
  • Which activity seemed to hold the best potential of success for your context?

References

BBC (2018). No More Boys and Girls: Can Our Kids Go Gender Free?, Outline Productions, accessible at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2017/33/no-more-boys-and-girls