The Sexualization of Early Childhood

 

 I personally think that guiding children through who they are to become starts with labeling them with categories with colors and toys. While we as parents and educators play a key role in them knowing the difference between a girl and a boy manufacturers and advertising also play a major role in how children see themselves. As perfectly stated in Derman-Sparks, “young children struggle with many issues as they attempt to understand what being a girl or a boy means” (2010, pg. 91).  

To encourage our children to embrace their feelings and explore their feelings with no limitations we tell them positive things like you can be whoever you want to be and you can do whatever you want to do. While that is a true statement we also turn around and purchase their clothes according to color, buy their toys according to what society says is for boys which is trucks, cars, footballs and things of that such and of course Barbie dream houses, dolls and kitchen sets for girls. Sometimes unintentionally we make the mistake of using color sexualization in class when we give an assignment and use blue for boys and pink for girls. This can sometimes make a similar mistake in the play area sending boys to play with balls and girls to go to the swing set. There is also a more common phrase that both parents and others make by stating if they see a little girl playing rough is “that’s not how little girls behave”. For boys sometimes if they are upset or crying the phrase “you’re crying like a little girl has been used”. Statements like that can be confusing to children because we want them to be comfortable with who they are and how they are feeling but we unintentionally judge them and make them questions themselves when they do. “Young children will believe that they can switch their gender by shifting their behavior” (Derman-Sparks, 2010, pg. 91). While a child home life will also play a part in their confusion it is essential to building those relationships with both children and their families to help children that may struggle with their confusion with gender. I think that were gender is concerned when speaking to be mindful of keeping stories, toys, colors neutral and reminding students as we teach that there is no specific color, toy or thing to do makes them any more or less of a boy or girl will be helpful with sexualization. “When teachers model a range of roles and interest that transcend traditional gender stereotypes, they encourage and support children in exploring a wide range of cognitive, social, and emotional learning experiences” (Derman-Sparks, 2010, pg. 93).  

This week topic has further influenced me to look deeper in uncovering more ways to approach and support children and their identities along with ways to keep sexualization of learning and play neutral so that it can hopefully make a smoother transition for their everyday life and developmental learning.

Reference 

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Photo:https://byclaudya.com/pink-is-for-boys-blue-is-for-girls-or-its-all-arbitrary/