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Original poster

Early years visual references-ABC of careers

64 replies

RainbowOctopus · 13/01/2021 19:21

Hello all,
I'm not going to pretend to be anything I'm not. I am looking to find out whether there is an appetite for a product I'm creating.
It's an artwork for children's rooms, nurseries, pre-schools etc. It's an alphabet A is for astronaut etc. Why am I discussing this in a feminist forum? Because the characters depicted are in roles that challenge social norms. Female astronauts, male social workers. During the course of my studies I came across a video of 7 year old children being asked to draw a fighter pilot, fire fighter and police officer (pretty sure that was the professions). All drew them as male. When the children were introduced to females in these roles they thought they were fake, or dressing up. Sadly this is quite a recent video. I feel sad that a male might be brought up to consider a role in the caring profession might in some way emasculate him, and even sadder to think he might be brought up thinking a female can't be an astronaut, Judge or mechanic! The artwork is also addressing the issue of race. There are so few children's books and pictures that have anything other than white children. We all want to believe that our children can be who they choose, that they can excel and be accepted in the world of work, but can they really if by the age of 7 they already have firm ideas about what boys and girls can do an achieve? I would really appreciate any thoughts or ideas

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 14/01/2021 12:05

The op wants to show men in traditionally female roles too @SquirtleSquad

SquirtleSquad · 14/01/2021 11:49

They do posters and wall art too

Early years visual references-ABC of careers
SquirtleSquad · 14/01/2021 11:46

This already exists or at least very similar, take a look at Boss Babs on Instagram or website linked

bossbabs.com/collections/flash-cards/products/the-galphabet

Early years visual references-ABC of careers
Early years visual references-ABC of careers
Hardbackwriter · 14/01/2021 11:46

@WhichOneOfUsIsCaving2

most boys will object reading a novel with a female protagonist for example.

So?

Do the boys get their preferred choice instead?

I think the issue is usually that, due to massive societal sexism, boys will object to reading a book 'about a girl' but girls see reading a book 'about a boy' as normal and unobjectionable, so books about boys are the path of least resistance, especially as it's generally regarded to be harder to get boys reading in the first place. Even as a teenager I never questioned why we were studying Lord of the Flies - in an all girls' school! - for instance, and I've never encountered an adult woman who doesn't read books by and about men but huge numbers of men would never read a book by a female author and/or with a female protagonist.

I think it's a huge perpetuator of misogyny, that boys are allowed from really young to just never put themselves in a position where they imagine experiencing the world as a girl/woman, and that that's seen as fine. It's one of the things I'm really conscious of with my son and most of his books have female lead characters but he's still really young so I don't know how long I've got until he realises that he's not 'supposed' to like books about girls.

TheBuffster · 14/01/2021 11:36

@WhichOneOfUsIsCaving2

most boys will object reading a novel with a female protagonist for example.

So?

Do the boys get their preferred choice instead?

Yes, in primary generally boys do get their own way. I'm not saying it's right, but it's generally how it is. You'll get the occasional female protagonist, like Rose Blanche, but the curriculum, like the history curriculum, is overwhelmingly male. Changing it from the inside is hard work as you are working against government, parents, pupils and other teachers.
Jobseeker19 · 14/01/2021 11:33

I would use that in my nursery!

WhichOneOfUsIsCaving2 · 14/01/2021 11:32

most boys will object reading a novel with a female protagonist for example.

So?

Do the boys get their preferred choice instead?

TheBuffster · 14/01/2021 10:57

I did a whole scheme where we looked at alternative explorers. A Malaysian slave who was the first person to sail around the world, a woman journalist who circumnavigate the globe in an air balloon. There are lots of historical figures who aren't white men you know.

StillWeRise · 13/01/2021 22:59

great idea OP

WarOnWomen · 13/01/2021 22:47

@TheBuffster

Mainly because he's responsible for mass genocide of natives. Also dehumanised the people he didn't kill, raping women etc. Obviously we don't cover that in ks1, but I do think it makes him unworthy to study, particularly in a British Curriculum where he's not the most relevant explorer anyway. Katrina Webb because my son is being diagnosed with cp and it's a personal preference of hero.

Who would be worthy to study in your opinion?

OP, love your idea Smile

DifficultBloodyWoman · 13/01/2021 22:32

That definitely wasn’t included in my history lessons!

TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 22:24

Mainly because he's responsible for mass genocide of natives. Also dehumanised the people he didn't kill, raping women etc.
Obviously we don't cover that in ks1, but I do think it makes him unworthy to study, particularly in a British Curriculum where he's not the most relevant explorer anyway.
Katrina Webb because my son is being diagnosed with cp and it's a personal preference of hero.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 13/01/2021 22:17

@TheBuffster

Can I also please request you don't use Christopher Columbus for anything. He's evil personified and for some reason really popular in ks1 ATM. I'd love to see someone like Katrina Webb represented too.
Can I ask why?
Hopeishere52 · 13/01/2021 21:02

Great idea , I’d like to see a female Gardener

TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 20:55

@ErrolTheDragon I did mean women, not girls, but was just thinking of my own experience eg. Joan of arc.

I've also had a full scale argument with a 5 year old why girls are Jedi's lol.

Original poster
RainbowOctopus · 13/01/2021 20:55

I really am very grateful for everyone having taken the time to share their comments and thoughts. Real food for thought!

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 13/01/2021 20:39

I’m a female civil engineer, abs I have a ds(12) and dd(9). This is something I feel quite strongly about!

I’m 50 and the “girls can do STEM” has been pushed at me all my life. I’ve been heavily involved in school and community engagement for 30 years. The “Boys can be carers” message is less well promoted, if at all. I feel very much that this is psyche needs to change.

AsTreesWalking · 13/01/2021 20:37

It would be worth talking to Librarians about it too. There aren't very many junior school librarians, but they would absolutely be on board. Try the School Library Service. (I'm a secondary school librarian, so no good for my library, unfortunately)

SqueakyCarrots · 13/01/2021 20:33

It most definitely is not harder for men in traditionally female roles at all. Look at the top managers in any traditionally female career - almost always men. All the top celeb chefs- men. Top celeb hair dressers- men. Even best known ballet dancers are men. Not to mention the people who make real money out of roles considered to be traditionally female are almost always male.

Besides even if there wasn’t the well observed glass elevator, it’s men who belong to the class who have all the power and it really isn’t ground breaking or revolutionary to push sex role stereotypes when they are the ones with all the power. For women fighting against those deeply ingrained sex role stereotypes it can mean actual death. Men face at worst getting mocked, but mostly they just get fawned over and paid more and come home to put their feet up while the wife (whether she’s the doctor or the nurse) still comes home to do the lions share of house work and child care.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/01/2021 20:19

I'd suggest the girls would, sadly, have to look quite girly, as boys will believe it's a boy with long hair before they believe it's a girl if they're doing something cool.

Girls and boys aren't astronauts or social workers. Make them look like adults. Make the scientist look like someone's mum (as many are). The sex of an adult is usually clear.

TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 20:18

Can I also please request you don't use Christopher Columbus for anything. He's evil personified and for some reason really popular in ks1 ATM.
I'd love to see someone like Katrina Webb represented too.

TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 20:10

It might actually be something to think about how to do something that would maximise remote learning, since I don't think we're moving away from that any time soon.
You could do a jolly phonics style song to introduce each character.

Original poster
RainbowOctopus · 13/01/2021 20:08

I've just had a look, it's fab, I love it! Mine is quite different but I feel they could compliment each other.

OP posts:
TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 20:07

Haha Aww shucks. I'm taking time out from work at moment due to ds health but would collaborate on something if anyone was up for it later?
I literally spend all my time at school going 'but girls' in staff meetings. So you know I'm super popular 😉

TriflePudding · 13/01/2021 20:03

The more versions of this the better I say !

Cracking idea RainbowOctopus, particularly in respect of trying to ensure that caring roles aren’t devalued - so it’s great that women can astronauts and its great that men can be nurses.

Plus TheBuffster you need to start an educational channel your ideas are brilliant, I wish you worked in my kids school!