Equality? Let's start with the game!
BanyolesWe want free girls, adults with a clear idea, who can move through the world safely and without fear. We defend equality, we sign manifestos, we are shocked by the data on the gender gap and gender-based violence. And yet, play, the first space in which children and society meet, is still full of stereotypes.
Clothes for playing
Playing, if we let them, is their main activity. The vast majority of boys and girls should dress up to play. But how do they do it? Look at the messages on the clothes they wear. Girls wear T-shirts with phrases like Sweetie, Be kind, Princess, I cut myself. Children, on the other hand, carry Lamb, Explorer, LeaderWhy are bravery and curiosity masculine qualities and sweetness and friendliness feminine values? There are also differences in clothing. Girls wear tight-fitting leggings and T-shirts. Boys wear loose, comfortable trousers made for running, jumping and climbing. Are leggings comfortable for everyone or just for girls? And if they are comfortable for everyone, why do only girls wear them?
Messages in stores
The same thing happens in toy stores. There are separate aisles and sections: cars, dinosaurs and tools for boys; kitchens, dolls and crafts for girls. The message is clear: you take care, you build. You take up little space, you explore. You observe, you act.
The language of adults
The difference is not just in the game, but in how we approach it. "How pretty!" versus "How brave!" "Let's see if you take good care of this doll." versus "Wow, you can go really fast with this car!" "Keep an eye on your sister for a moment"versus "Help me fix this". And this is where Wittgenstein's reflection comes to mind: "The limits of my language are the limits of my world." If we want children to have a wider world, perhaps we should start by expanding our language and, at the same time, their clothing and their games.
When does it all start?
According to several studies, by the age of three, children are already aware of their sex and begin to adopt gender stereotypes that will influence their way of playing, expressing themselves and relating. research published in 2017 in the magazine Science, shows that from the age of six many girls already associate intelligence with boys and begin to dismiss activities that they perceive as belonging to "very intelligent" people. This indicates that gender stereotypes appear very early and have an impact on the opportunities and decisions that children make from a young age.
How do we turn it around?
Do a quick exercise: read this sentence: Toys for girls. What came to your mind? And now this other one: Toys for children. If the images you have imagined are exactly the same, congratulations! If not, it's okay, you are part of the majority. The important thing is to be aware that, although we think not, as adults we carry a burden of gender stereotypes that influence our decisions.
Choose toys for girls without conditioning them and without projecting expectations. Open the range of options and explore all the possibilities of play that exist and ask yourself: Why haven't you had the chance to try it? Which games and toys have been restricted for cultural or social reasons?
Conclusion
Girls need us to help them visualize themselves doing all kinds of activities, playing with all kinds of toys and games. We need to reinforce this message to them, and we need to do it with sincerity, joy and enthusiasm. If we want a more just and equal society, we start with the basics. How children play today will determine how they look and feel in the world tomorrow. And play should be a space of freedom.