Early Childhood Educators Addressing Gender in Their Classrooms

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 2:30 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Humanizing and Honoring Children's Identity, Agency, and Voice (Table 1)

Abstract

341 early childhood educators filled out an online survey about their attitudes and practices surrounding gender. Teachers who explicitly addressed gender reported using the following teaching strategies: a) Designing activities about gender such as book readings representing LGBTQIA+ families; encouraging children to identify and label their gender; b) Using classroom materials and supplies that represent gender diversity, including photos, pictures, and posters representing gender diversity; toys, such as dolls, with a variety of gender expressions c) Discussing gender diversity with children, emphasizing that people across and within gender groups are similar and different; asking questions from children to explore their gender attitudes in-depth. d) Designing curricular units or lessons addressing gender diversity, including: Pride Month activities.

Author

• Flora Farago, Stephen F. Austin State University