Promoting Gender Equality from Childhood

Since ancient times, gender roles have defined the way society expects men and women to behave. Girls were seen as docile and maternal, while boys had to be strong and aggressive. Over time, we have learned that these stereotypes are limiting and harmful to our children's development. It is crucial to start working on gender equality from childhood to form empathetic, tolerant, and open-minded individuals. In a society moving towards equity, it is important for both adults and children to understand that activities and behaviors should not be assigned based on gender. Parents and educators have the responsibility to instill this vision, avoiding comments that reinforce stereotypes. For example, phrases like "boys don't cry" or "girls don't play soccer" only perpetuate a limited and discriminatory view. An egalitarian home is one where responsibilities are shared regardless of gender. By allowing children to see both mom and dad exchanging household and work tasks, we teach them that collaboration and supporting each other are the most valuable things, regardless of being a man or a woman. Rotating family tasks can be an excellent way to implement this concept of shared responsibility. Giving children the freedom to choose their preferred activities without prejudice is also fundamental. Girls can enjoy soccer and boys can love cooking. This type of freedom fosters confidence and creativity, allowing children to explore their genuine interests and develop a variety of skills. At Cuentologia, we address gender role issues through our immersive audiobooks. Our story "Kids VS Elves" features five siblings, both girls and boys, working together and using their individual skills to solve problems and face challenges. With this story, we aim to break gender stereotypes, showing that both girls and boys can play heroic and important roles. Additionally, we encourage families to participate in activities like creating a shared responsibility calendar, where all tasks are equitably distributed, regardless of gender. In this way, we promote equality and teamwork from the early years of life.