The seven ways to encourage gender equality in the classroom

Promoting gender equality is a great way to give your students a healthy and sustainable future – here are seven ways you can introduce the topic in your classroom

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on World Class Teachers

The years children spend in the classroom play a major role in shaping their values and standards for how they treat others. By introducing the subject of gender equality at a young age, you’ll encourage children to continue this standard throughout their lives.

Here are seven ways you can prevent gender inequality in your classroom.

Avoid separating male and female students

Not only does separating students within the classroom inhibit male and female students learning to socialise with each other, but it does not allow for non-binary students to feel comfortable and seen. So, avoid things like ‘girls vs boys’ games, for example.

Don’t allow male students to interrupt female students when they are speaking

It’s a well-known thing that women are interrupted a lot by men. And it all starts with upbringing.

Boys are taught to play rough and tumble, whereas girls are taught to be stay polite and quiet. This subconsciously teaches our children – including girls – that what women have to say is less important.

Encouraging male students to listen, and female students to voice their opinions helps combat this issue at an early age. 

If you notice male students speaking over female ones, simply interrupt them to tell them to let the previous student finish what they were saying, and then make sure they are heard afterwards. 

This will ensure that they know they will be heard, but that it is not more important than the opinions of their female counterparts.

Promote all genders working together

Perhaps the best way to promote gender equality in the classroom is by simply encouraging everyone to work together. 

Teamwork is a valuable life skill regardless, but letting students of all genders work together free from stereotypes will teach them that gender really don’t matter at all.

Avoid stereotypes (including subtle ones)

It’s important to avoid old and sometimes well-ingrained stereotypes such as ‘blue for boys’ and ‘pink for girls’, or ‘tough boys’ and ‘caring’ girls. 

 These are subtle things, but things that can have a huge impact on what a child’s value and self-worth is based on. Try to avoid commenting on girls’ appearance and focus on complimenting their achievements and ideas.

Include literature that is inclusive and free of gender stereotypes

A lot of literature we all read at school is filled with gender stereotypes and outdated gender roles. Children are inspired by stories that they can relate to, with characters that look like them. 

 Therefore, reading books about women becoming scientists, and boys becoming nurses, helps promote equal job opportunities and goals as they grow up.

 Swap out gendered words

It’s a good idea to start replacing phrases like ‘mum and dad’ for ‘parent/s’ or ‘caregiver/s’. This helps create an inclusive environment in which kids with same-sex parents feel included, and where every family dynamic is represented.

This is a tip we’ve all been doing for a while but try to also avoid gendered professions like ‘policeman’ and ‘fireman’, and go for ‘police officer’ and ‘firefighter’ instead. 

Here we can prevent kids from thinking they can’t aspire to certain professions because of their gender.

It’s also important for non-binary gender inclusion, that in sex education especially, we de-gender anatomy. For example, instead of saying ‘lady parts’ and ‘boy bits’ try to use anatomically correct terms that do not exclude transgender students.

Avoid assigning gender to toys and games in early years

Teachers must be proactive when maintaining an equal and stereotype-free environment in the classroom. This starts in early years. 

 In an experiment carried out by the BBC, three toddlers were dressed in clothes that were typically assigned to the opposite sex. An adult was then asked to play with each of the children, unaware of the change. 

 All of the adults playing with what they thought was a male, encouraged them to play with fire trucks, robots, and toys that teach spatial awareness and strength. Unsurprisingly, the adults who interacted with what they thought was a female, they gave them soft, pretty-looking toys and dolls to play with.

It is important that we stop assigning toys and activities to children based on their sex and give all kids an equal opportunity to benefit from what all different toys can teach them.