Staff who work in schools need to be aware of the harmful impacts that the perpetuation of gender stereotyping could have on children and young people; and that their actions whether consciously or unconsciously made, have an important part to play in this. It is important to remember that:
…children arrive in school with strong assumptions based on their day-to-day experience [and it is schools which] help them to discover their passions and aspirations, develop their potential and find their place in society (Chambers, et al., 2018, p.vii). [1]
[1] Chambers, N., Kashefpakdel, E.T., Rehill, J., & Percy, C. (2018). Drawing the future: Exploring the career aspirations of primary school children from around the world. Education and Employers.
However, if one takes time to consider ‘gender stereotyping’ and consider their subsequent actions in terms of ‘social interactions’and ‘environmental influences’, staff who work in schools will be able to play their part to ‘nudge the gender box’ and allow children to be free to explore themselves and the world around them without potentially harmful stereotypical gender constraints.
RES-Ed 