Gender Equality

Although we can’t clearly see the gender equality being observed within a family, still we should be
thankful that little by little our voices for gender equality are being heard for reinforcement. This change
should start within the family to be led by our parents.

Why Gender Inequality Often Starts at Home

Home is where the heart is. But it’s also the first place where children are socialized into gender norms,
values and stereotypes.

From the moment babies are born, their assigned sex (male or female) immediately begins to shape
how they should be treated, what opportunities they should receive or how they should behave
according to dominant gender stereotypes in their society.

In fact, studies have shown that an individual’s sense of being either male or female is predominately
determined by the way they are treated by others. Based on their external environment, children learn
very quickly (from as young as 9 months old in some cases) that boys and girls are different – they have
their own colours, toys, abilities and particular interests.

These differences and assigned roles based on sex, also known as the “gender binary”, become
unquestioned rationale for many ideas about what boys, girls, men and women can and cannot do. For
example, most societies expect females to behave in a submissive, dependent and emotional way while
males are expected to be strong, independent and stoic.

Parents teach children their place in the world

From birth, parents interact differently with children depending on their sex, and through this
interaction, parents san instill different values or traits in their children on the basis of what is normative
for their sex. This can be seen through the example of which types of toys parents typically give to their
children.

In many patriarchal societies there is an idea that boys are preferable to girls. According to research
conducted in North America; families are more likely to continue having children if they only have
daughters versus if they only have sons – indicating that there is a preference to have male children in
the family.

And in developing countries, where millions live below the poverty line, parents with limited financial
resources tend to favor having boys due to a myriad of gender related reasons:

Boys are perceived as being more “valuable” and worthy of investing in. For example, a preference for
sending boys to school is fuelled by a belief that all girls will eventually get married off. Therefore,
investing in a girl’s education reaps little return because a girl who stays at home and learns how to take
care of a family is of more value to a future husband.

In marriage, a girl often joins her husband’s family and may cost her family a dowry (property or money
brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage).

In many countries, girls and women do not have property rights. Only men are allowed to own or inherit
property, having a son keeps assets in the family and makes sure parents will have somewhere to live
when they get old.

If a family needs hard physical labour to run a farm or make it’s living in some other way, boys are seen
as more capable and stronger than girls.

For example, the gendered division of household work is accepted almost everywhere. Boys are more
likely than girls to have maintenance chores like mowing the lawn or painting, while girls are given
domestic chores like cooking and cleaning. This segregation of household labour tells children that they
are expected to take on different roles based on their gender.

What can parents do to eliminate Gender Inequality in the family

While both parents influence their children’s perceptions of gender, fathers in particular are more likely
to reinforce common gender stereotypes, preferring to encourage gendered toys, sports and rough play
with their sons versus their daughters. In addition, the way fathers treat their wives can have a long-
term impact on their sons and daughters’ personality and life choices. In fact, fathers who take on an
active role in childcare and domestic labor positively influence their children by showing that the adult
male role can be nurturing. This positive role modelling helps boys become better husbands, fathers,
brothers and friends to girls and women. At the same time, it positively impacts the self-esteem of
young girls and reinforces that both genders are equal. Additionally, mothers who work and take on a
financial provider role in the family also help break down stereotypes for their children – especially their
daughters – and challenge ideas about the conventional female role.
Teaching gender equality to kids does not require any special preparation or atmosphere. Let your
children learn by observation. Some ways of how you can teach gender equality to your kids are as
follows:

1. Be An Example

Display the kind of behaviour you expect from your children. As a husband and wife, you must speak to
each other with respect, share the household chores, and handle other tasks together. Let your kids
notice that you work together as a team. Let them see that it is not a woman’s duty to cook dinner for
everyone in the family or a man’s responsibility to buy groceries from the shop. When your kids notice
this, it will reflect in their behaviour too. So, set a good example.

2. Both are Special

Don’t show preferential behaviour towards either of your kids or be harsh on boys and soft on girls or
vice versa. Some parents treat the girls as if they are made of porcelain. They are already making them
feel that they are weak and need to be protected all the time. These parents, in turn, are harsh on the
boys. If you don’t tolerate the bad behaviour of the son, don’t condone the bad behaviour of the
daughter either. Reprimand them or appreciate them in the same way for their bad or good behaviour.

3. All Household Chores are Equal

Let the children help in the household work as per their age, equally, irrespective of the gender. Let
them share the workload with you, whether it is washing cars, washing dishes in the kitchen, chopping
vegetables, hanging the washed clothes, going out to buy household things etc. Both should be given
every kind of work without earmarking them as the girlie work and the manly work.

4. Watch Your Language and Theirs

Don’t use abusive language in front of them, especially that which disparages and belittles a female.
Stop them from using swear words. Generally, the parents, especially the father, overlooks the bad
language of the son. The son must be made to understand that it’s not cool and manly to swear and
curse.

5. A Successful Daughter is Not a Replacement for a Son

The girl has her own place as a daughter. The typical refrain parents use for a successful daughter with
many achievements is, “ She is not my daughter, she is my son.” Why? By saying so, you are negating
her efforts and indirectly telling her that sons are better than daughters.

6. Teach Both of Them To Be Self Dependent

Teach them both the life skills to survive when alone such as, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing and
mending clothes, small repair work in and around the house.
7. Encourage them to do What They Want

If a daughter wants to play football, let her and, if the son wants to join cookery or dance classes, permit
him.

8. Set the Same Curfew Time for Both

The time for both to return home after the evening should be the same. Do not extend the time for your
son.

9. Equal Division of Property for Both

Let them know that both are equal inheritors of the parental property.

10. Family Bonding Time

Have discussions on common issues and pay heed to both equally. Watch with them movies that are
soft with mainly female characters and, the ones considered for boys only. Allow both to cry while
watching.

All humans – regardless of gender – are guaranteed the same fundamental human

https://stories.plancanada.ca/why-gender-inequality-starts-at-home/

https://www.slideshare.net/ShubhamGupta128/gender-inequality-28198656