Title

Challenges and opportunities: book discussions of gender non-conformity in two preschool classrooms

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-11-2022

Publication Title

Early Child Development and Care

Abstract

This qualitative case study investigated how two White female preschool teachers, who were familiar with anti-bias pedagogy, discussed gender non-conformity using a book in their classrooms. The book discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed. Teachers challenged some of the children’s gender stereotypes about gender non-conformity; however, teachers did not counter other stereotypes and kept discussions about gender non-conformity at the surface level. Children drew on their normative understandings of gender as a binary concept to make sense of gender non-conformity. Children were aware of gender-stereotyped clothing that would be deemed gender appropriate by their peers or family. Some children had difficulty understanding why a boy would wear a dress, while others challenged gender stereotypes. Teachers did not engage in in-depth discussions around gender non-conformity or around the gendered nature of bullying of a ‘girly’ boy in the book. Implications are discussed for teacher professional development and for gender-affirming early childhood pedagogy.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2022.2153838

ISSN

1476-8275

Comments

Flóra Faragó (2022): Challenges and opportunities: book discussions of gender non-conformity in two preschool classrooms, Early Child Development and Care, DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2022.2153838

Link to Full Text


COinS

Tell us how this article helped you.