"It's a Boy Thing Because It's Sharp": Interrogating Gender Stereotypes in a Preschool Classroom

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: Critical Early Childhood Conversations and Practices (Table 12)

Abstract

Discussions related to gender have become taboo in the classroom, especially in the preschool years. It is important for young children to explore gender identity; however, many teachers struggle to create these spaces. This qualitative case study aims to discover the ways in which teacher practices created opportunities, space, and structures to explore gender roles and stereotypes in the preschool classroom. Data collected includes storyboards, children’s work samples, photographs, transcribed planning sessions, and researcher journals. Data were analyzed utilizing line-by-line coding to create themes and categories that were used for comparison. Findings indicate that building classroom culture, creating space, incorporating purposeful materials, and intentional planning were necessary to authentically create opportunities for young children to explore gender roles and stereotypes.

Authors

• Victoria Damjanovic, Northern Arizona University
  Presenting Author

• Stephanie Branson, Northern Arizona University
  Presenting Author