How to explain feminist issues to young kids?

I like using good natured incredulity at the ignorance of a sexist society.

“Did you know that some people actually used to believe that girls can’t be firefighters!??? How RIDICULOUS is that??”

I do it so often that she has told me about some equally “ridiculous” thing another kid said about not/girl stuff.

Point is, these attitudes deserve ridicule and if she’s used to hearing that, then great.

We also talk a ton about how the ONLY differences between boys and girls are the reproductive system (whether you can have a baby in your tummy or if you have a penis). So that helps because it’s pretty self evident that should not be a career decider.

I'm a STEM ambassador and as a female, one of the things I do is speak to young people about women in STEM and try to break down the idea that's it's a man's world.
We do a task with students where we ask them to draw a mathematician, a scientists, an IT professional and an engineer. 9/10 draw men in all these roles (doc brown as the scientist, guys like those from the IT crowd as IT professionals, engineers are men in overalls and mathematicians look like male professors with elbow patches usually). We then ask them why they've drawn men or why they haven't drawn women. Considering the session is ran by several women in STEM roles, they still draw men. Getting them to think about 'why' they've drawn men often helps the young people understand how unfair that is. It's only one small task but it's definitely a good one to try.

Don't worry too much. They go through these phases. It's all about fitting in with the group and will probably pass within a year or two as the fashion changes.

My daughter went through a phase when she thought dumbing down was adorable, but she's nothing like that now.

I think it helps to take the perspective that:
A. She's socially sensitive and trying to adjust. Good, this is a strength.
B. It's a good chance to show you respect her choices (you wouldn't pick pink sparkles but support her choice to do so)

But, yeah, keep saying that no, girls can do whatever. And boys can too, of course, wear pink etc.

Huge brain dump here of what I do say to day with DD(5) and DS(7) and have done for several years.

correct her / others as soon as the stereotypes come out. If someone comments on her looks, make sure you balance it with a comment and her achievement / talents.

Outright 'No, girls can be pilots - let's look some up' or 'there's no such thing as girls and boys toys'.

Actively DONT comment on other girls' dresses / hair etc but instead ask a question about what they are doing / feeling.

Find role models in your family / friends that buck 'traditional' roles - we have a female cousin police officer, a mum friend who's a GP, a male friend who's a teacher, a female scientist, my brother does all the cooking in their family etc etc. And talk about them a lot.

Point out the same on TV / films.

Praise girls for doing 'boy' things eg strong, brave, running and praise boys for 'girl' stuff eg creative, colouring nicely, being kind, looking after dolls / toys.

I've yet to actually deal with the societal issues of the patriarchy but I think I do occasionally and casually point out that the world is set up for men which makes it harder for women (I can't reach the oven clock etc!).

I think I may attempt to explain marketing soon as DS(7) could probably get his head around basic idea and how it's aimed at people but doesn't mean that ONLY those people like it.

I also try to centre women in DDs world by all neutral things eg animals / odd characters are female eg 'oh look DD there's a squirrel digging - I wonder what she's looking for'

I intend to talk to them both about it as much and as soon as I can so it's not a big conversation at a certain point but more an ever present lesson on how to smash the patriarchy