In a distant country called Sweden, there is a nursery school (kindergarten, if you prefer) called Nicolaigarden, which has become an example of gender neutrality. And since distances are not so much on the Internet, I'm going to stop talking about stories, and I'm going to tell you a little more about what this pedagogical strategy means, and I will also delight you with some of the characteristics that make these educational centers (5 in the whole country) unique places.
We have spoken on other occasions about gender stereotypes (here a reflection on its possible impact on gender-based violence), so I am not going to elaborate on its definition; although I do want to remember that when we talk about them, we refer to 'a social construction of the biological differences that men and women present'. The promotion of sexism is presupposed, because they limit capacities based on sex. Anyone with educational functions should be clear that the social construction of gender is not comparable to biology. The school may or may not reproduce models of masculinity and femininity (it would be desirable if it did not) existing in society; and both in the school and domestic environment it is still a pending issue.
A post of the SINC Agency, echoed 6 years ago a study based on the Eurydice network: a statement from the European Commission stated that 'the main objective is to break traditional roles and stereotypes'. The work was called "Gender differences in school performance." The report only confirmed the perceived reality: strategies to avoid gender stereotypes in career choice, and other initiatives aimed at breaking them, are non-existent; And that the current differences are more complex because although abandonment affects more men, they are the ones who mostly run the institutions. The document also indicates the lack of training for families to promote equality.
If you want to find gender neutrality as a pedagogy, look in Sweden.
Nicolaigarden's model is periodically reviewed in the world's media; But before continuing, let me expand even a little bit on this 'gender neutrality'. It is a phenomenon that in Sweden attracts a lot of attention, and it translates into the application of “genuspedagogik” (gender pedagogy). We find here that 'the basic idea is to eliminate the observation of male and female students based on their gender, as well as the expectations of teachers that could be conditioned by this.
The aforementioned project yields two main conclusions:
- If heteronormativity is eliminated, freedom to act non-conforming to sex is favored, but according to their own decisions.
- Gender neutrality presents an important drawback: girls and boys when they leave school, they encounter the reality of an environment still governed by gender norms.
Nicolaigarden: diversity for an education stripped of gender roles.
Differences are strength: on the façade, flags of the countries of origin of their students are waving, the team of teachers is surprisingly heterogeneous in origin, religion, sexual orientation ... they all wear a pink vest (the color that distinguishes the institution). Its director affirms that it is nothing more than an effort to work democratically.
A success based on:
- Children are what they want to be:
- The toys are not distributed by corners, but mixed.
- The boys are not the owners of the playground, while the girls whisper in the corners: everyone has the same right to exercise the center of the playground.
- Social gender is not conditioned: A child is not prevented from playing with a doll, nor with a car..
- Conflicts are managed without violence.
- Emotions are expressed and communicated.
- The stories that are read have normal people as protagonists; and traditional stories are part of a library of old books. Thus it is understood that society evolves.
- The pronoun 'hen' replaces 'hon' (she) and 'he' (han) on occasion
And if the little ones at Nocolaigarden don't read sexist stories about imaginary kingdoms and princesses who succumb to romantic love, in Madres Hoy We would like to be part of that social change that banishes gender stereotypes so that the school by reproducing the social models, show the boys and girls, that they can be what they set out to do.
The ogre (with forgiveness of the ogres) of this story is that in our country, we find ourselves immersed in a social system that has not only caused a big pay gap, but forces women to choose drastically between professional career and family life, due to the lack of real conciliation (not like in Sweden - by the way - and I say this one day after the Saved program that is on everyone's lips today); and that is perceived by girls and boys.