Shared from a Facebook page “Upworthy” (via inspiringthefuture.org)
It is a classroom with children between the ages of 5 & 7
One day three guest women come to the class.
One woman tells the children, “this afternoon we are going to draw pictures of people doing jobs. And the first we will draw is that of a firefighter.
All the children happily settle down to draw. “Mine is firefighter Gary," says one, “This is firefighter Stan"; "This is Simon. He is very strong,” say others. And it goes on.
“Next we are going to draw a surgeon,” says the second woman. Again a happy and hectic activity.
“What is the name of this surgeon?” asks the woman to one child. “This is Jim Bob. He is a brain surgeon,” says one. “He gives medicines,” says another.
“Next we are going to draw Fighter Pilot,” says the third woman.
One child draws a fighter plane and says, “This is Mr X. He rescues people.” And so on.
“Now we would meet these people for real,” says the women. There’s a cheerful “YES!” from all.
The three women go and come back as Firefighter, Surgeon and Fighter Pilot.
There’s an incredible gasp. Jaws wide open, faces with diverse expressions, the children look at all the three. They still don’t believe. “Fake, they are all dressed up,” they shout.
The first woman introduces herself as a surgeon.
One day three guest women come to the class.
One woman tells the children, “this afternoon we are going to draw pictures of people doing jobs. And the first we will draw is that of a firefighter.
All the children happily settle down to draw. “Mine is firefighter Gary," says one, “This is firefighter Stan"; "This is Simon. He is very strong,” say others. And it goes on.
“Next we are going to draw a surgeon,” says the second woman. Again a happy and hectic activity.
“What is the name of this surgeon?” asks the woman to one child. “This is Jim Bob. He is a brain surgeon,” says one. “He gives medicines,” says another.
“Next we are going to draw Fighter Pilot,” says the third woman.
One child draws a fighter plane and says, “This is Mr X. He rescues people.” And so on.
“Now we would meet these people for real,” says the women. There’s a cheerful “YES!” from all.
The three women go and come back as Firefighter, Surgeon and Fighter Pilot.
There’s an incredible gasp. Jaws wide open, faces with diverse expressions, the children look at all the three. They still don’t believe. “Fake, they are all dressed up,” they shout.
The first woman introduces herself as a surgeon.
The second introduces herself as a fighter pilot.
And the third, as a fire fighter.
There’s an unbelievable silence. The three women make the children don their caps and the children happily do so.
What is special about this incident?
61 pictures drawn were that of men and 5 as women!!!!!
Obviously, gender stereotypes are defined between the ages of 5 & 7.
When a real-life firefighter, surgeon, and fighter pilot drop in on a classroom, these kids have their assumptions turned around.
Watch this video https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1309607832413405/
To remove this stereotyping, parents, teachers and other social agencies can teach their children to be androgynous, a person who may at will engage in both masculine or feminine behaviors & tasks as seen by the society; a person who focuses less on culturally built behaviours for males and females and rather focus more on a behaviour that is more operative under the given situations.
Isn’t it time we redrew the balance?
And the third, as a fire fighter.
There’s an unbelievable silence. The three women make the children don their caps and the children happily do so.
What is special about this incident?
61 pictures drawn were that of men and 5 as women!!!!!
Obviously, gender stereotypes are defined between the ages of 5 & 7.
When a real-life firefighter, surgeon, and fighter pilot drop in on a classroom, these kids have their assumptions turned around.
Watch this video https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1309607832413405/
To remove this stereotyping, parents, teachers and other social agencies can teach their children to be androgynous, a person who may at will engage in both masculine or feminine behaviors & tasks as seen by the society; a person who focuses less on culturally built behaviours for males and females and rather focus more on a behaviour that is more operative under the given situations.
Isn’t it time we redrew the balance?
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