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What does gender equity mean for early years practitioners? What are early years settings already doing to promote gender equality, and why is this so important? How can we provide children with a solid basis from which they can grow into people who are not limited by society's expectations of their gender?
This is a manual for every early years practitioner who wishes to expand their knowledge and improve their practice around gender stereotyping in the early years. Drawing from the authors' experience developing a public health programme tackling gender stereotypes, it explores the reasons why gender inequality is still an issue, identifies the ways it is perpetuated and provides a framework and practical tools to drive change. The framework includes an audit process to celebrate areas of success and to identify areas for development, alongside a host of suggestions on how to navigate tricky situations in creative, respectful and effective ways.
With the voices and experiences of experts and practitioners woven throughout, alongside key reflections and scenarios to critically engage with, Challenging Gender Stereotypes in the Early Years challenges readers to consider their own practice, drive staff awareness and make a difference to their setting.
List of contents
Title Page
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
An Important Note on Safety and Self-Care
Introduction
Part 1
- Key Concepts and Definitions
- Gender Inequality: What Are We Getting Right?
- Young Brains: Gender and Child Development
- How Gender Stereotypes Are Reinforced
Part 2
- What's the Harm?
- Violence Against Women and Girls
- Man Up! Gender Stereotypes and Male Violence
- Gendered Bodies
- Parent Pressure
- Sexuality and Gender Identity: The Pressure to Conform
- Learning, Working, Earning
- Mental Health
- Gender and the Early Years Workforce
Part 3
- Auditing Your Practice
- Bias, and How To Get Over It!
- Equitable Practice
- What Parents Can Do and How to Get Them On Board
- Practice Scenarios
- A Call to Action
Appendix 1: Action Checklist
Appendix 2: Audit Table
Appendix 3: Further Information
Glossary
Index
About the author
Susie Heywood and
Barbara Adzajlic are public health professionals with over 15 years' experience working on topics such as mental health, gender based violence, suicide prevention, behaviour change and inequalities.
Together Susie and Barbara co-created the Gender Friendly Nursery, a programme of training and accreditation supporting early learning and childcare establishments to address gender equality as part of their roles with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. They now work together to offer guidance, support and training to organisations wishing to improve their practice in relation to gender inequality.
Summary
This is a manual for every early years practitioner wanting to expand their knowledge and improve their practice around gender stereotyping in the early years. It explores the reasons why gender inequality is still an issue, identifies the ways it is perpetuated and provides a framework and practical tools to drive change.
