Gender stereotyping has helped raise the UK mental health crisis afflicting the younger generation, as the Fawcett Equality Report has warned.
Also, according to the report, it is at the root of body image and eating disorders, record male suicide rates, and violence against women girls.
As Sam Smethers, Fawcett Society Chief Executive, mentions, “Gender stereotyping is everywhere and causes serious, long-lasting harm –that’s the clear message from the research for the Commission. From 'boys will be boys' attitudes in nursery or school, to jobs for boys and jobs for girls views among some parents, these stereotypes are deeply embedded, and they last a lifetime.”
Stereotypes also limit youngsters’ career choices, which contributes to the gender pay gap. According to the research findings, stereotyping persists in parenting, education, and the commercial sector, i.e., toys, books, and fashion. Therefore, the commission calls on the government to support teachers and parents.
The commission urges the Department for Education to challenge gender stereotypes a priority through teaching – from initial training to the curriculum to inspection frameworks. It also encourages toy companies to drop separate categories in their advertising and product design. Designers can end stereotypical imagery and slogans on clothes, and female characters’ representation improved in books, TV, and online content.
Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “Gender stereotyping is everywhere and causes serious, long-lasting harm – that’s the clear message from the research for the commission. From “boys will be boys” attitudes in nursery or school, to jobs for boys and jobs for girls views among some parents, these stereotypes are deeply embedded, and they last a lifetime. We need to end the ‘princessification’ of girls and the toxification of boys.”
The report culminated in an 18-month research and evidence gathering, co-chaired by Prof Becky Francis – now chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation and Labour MP David Lammy – formerly co-chair of the cross-party parliamentary group on fatherhood.
The exercise brought together a wide-ranging group of stakeholders, from online parenting group Mumsnet and the National Childbirth Trust, the National Education Union, campaigning group Let Toys Be Toys, Usborne Books, and educational publisher Pearson.
Most parents recognize a problem in the home, with three-quarters saying people treat boys and girls differently from an early age. They are also seven times more likely to picture their sons working in construction and almost three times as likely to see their daughters in nursing or care work.
When playgroup and nursery workers and primary school teachers were asked whether they had seen or heard gender stereotypes perpetuated, more than half said they had “often” or “sometimes” witnessed people say “boys will be boys” when they misbehaved.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “As a nation, we’re not making fast enough progress on equality between men and women. Issues such as subject choices in education and unequal pay in the workforce all flow from gender stereotypes. The NEU welcomes a conversation about the curriculum practices that could help teachers challenge gender stereotypes.”
In retail, an audit of 141 high street shops and 44 online retailers found that children’s clothes, cards, and stationery were often sold using explicit segregation, and toys showcased using pink and blue. However, two-thirds of parents said they wanted to see companies advertise items to boys and girls in the same way.
Last year, a charter was drawn up by the French government with toy manufacturers and retailers to counter insidious messaging that discouraged girls from engineering and computer coding.
References
GENDER STEREOTYPES ARE LIMITING CHILDREN’S POTENTIAL AND CAUSING LIFELONG HARM
Gender stereotyping is harming young people's mental health, finds UK report
