Boys and Girls

This reading talks about the children in kindergarten and the various roles that they play as boys and girls, in that environment. It also highlights the role of the teacher in shaping the behaviors and attitudes of the children towards each other.

1) The first question, thus that comes to my mind is how important is the role of the teacher in framing up the behaviours of the children, and the way that they act with each other. Apart from school and other educational institution, what other aspects or factors play a role in the life of a child when he/she is in kindergarten?

I think that kindergarten is an important part in a child’s life. It is during this phase that a child starts understanding about appropriate behaviors of behaving with each other. During this phase the role of the teacher is extremely important because a child behaves exactly in the way the teacher wants him/her to. I think that during this time an environment should be made by the teachers to assure that gender equality is promoted. This can only be done if the teachers allow both the boys and girls to take a part in each other’s activities. It is only through this that gender equality will be promoted. Together with this primary socialization, and media also plays an important role in the life of these children and so gender equality can only be promoted if gender biasness is eliminated from all levels of the society.

2) In what ways can equality be created in educational institutions and what will be the outcome of this?

I think that gender equality is a very important part of a society and it should always be promoted. On the educational level, however starting from the kindergarten efforts should be made to promote gender equality. This can be done if the same curriculum is developed for both boys and girls and if equal opportunities are available for both of them. In our society it is seen how it is a commonly held belief that girls will normally pursue a career in arts and boys in engineering, mathematics or sciences. I think this should not take place and both boys and girls should opt for the course that interests them based on their abilities. If this takes place, then both males and females will be treated based on their skills, qualifications and abilities and equality between the sexes will be created.

3) How important is secondary socialization in a person’s life and how does it help in eliminating or creating biasness?

Secondary socialization is the process of socialization that takes place outside the home that is in a larger grouping (friends, peers etc). I think that this is the phase is very important in a child’s life after primary socialization. This is the time during which a child realizes and understands about the appropriate behaviours that he/she has to adopt and the roles that they have to play. For eg boys believe that they have to be strong and protect the girls. This is when gender biasness and stereotypes come in, and both the boys and girls realize that they are not equal.