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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:
Hardbackwriter · 13/01/2021 20:02

[quote SnowyAlpaca]This already exists. A friend of mine illustrated it - bossbabs.com/[/quote]
I really like that but am I right in thinking that it's all women? I think that's really important but it's also just as important to show men in stereotypically 'female' roles. I feel like there's actually much more societal resistance to that (I know a lot of parents who take their daughters to toddler rugby but none who take sons to toddler ballet), and that one inherently impacts on the other.

Original poster
RainbowOctopus · 13/01/2021 20:00

I'm so glad I asked and am inspired and spurred on by your comments. A scheme of work, I very much like that Idea! I was hoping to catch the pre-schoolers but can see how this can run into early primary too

OP posts:
SnowyAlpaca · 13/01/2021 19:57

Obviously not saying you can't do your own version! Sorry, realised my message sounded unintentionally abrupt. The more the merrier with this sort of thing I say.

SnowyAlpaca · 13/01/2021 19:56

This already exists. A friend of mine illustrated it - bossbabs.com/

TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 19:55

Sorry me again- it also might be good to put the feelers out to local services or. Fire, police, universities and have some real life 'guests' come in to schools to launch the product. You'd need to specify you'd want a female though because male seems to be the default in this kind of role.
It's the kind of thing that could run and run with proper planning, an entire scheme of work could be run off it, complete with child initiated activities. I imagine young, hip eyfs teachers already do a great deal on this. In my school they pay it lip service and then invite male police officer in etc.

Original poster
RainbowOctopus · 13/01/2021 19:53

Thank you so much for your really valuable insight.

OP posts:
TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 19:48

You could also use famous examples like:
A is for aviator Amelia Airhart
C is for cook Jamie Oliver
S is for Scientist Madam Curie
P is for Pop Star David Bowie

Making some phonics flash cards might be a good way to make it relevant to eyfs

Just make them cartoony
The bedtime stories for daring girls is a good resource

Hardbackwriter · 13/01/2021 19:45

I think it's a lovely idea and there would be a market for it but that sadly the problem isn't so easily solved, this stuff seeps in even if they have more balanced role models too. My friend's daughter told her that men are doctors and women are nurses even though my friend is a doctor and her daughter knows that! It would definitely help, though, and that can only be a good thing.

hatgirl · 13/01/2021 19:41

@SqueakyCarrots

I don’t think a male social worker challenges gender norms at all, they just get the glass elevator while being hailed as revolutionary, all for doing what women do for zero thanks.
Yup.
SqueakyCarrots · 13/01/2021 19:37

I don’t think a male social worker challenges gender norms at all, they just get the glass elevator while being hailed as revolutionary, all for doing what women do for zero thanks.

TheBuffster · 13/01/2021 19:34

I think the show you are referencing was called no more girls and boys.

I am in two minds on this, on the one hand, I think it's a great idea and so does DH (both teachers).
However, we're not the movers and shakers and senior leadership in my experience either don't care or actively don't want progression.
It's an interesting concept because most schools I have worked in end up doing boy heavy topics and the girls end up just coming along for the ride.
By KS2 most boys will object reading a novel with a female protagonist for example.
So if you got them earlier it'd be interesting to see if stereotypes still prevailed.
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.
I remember having a convo where I googled Joan of arc to show there were girl knights. Was told by said 4 year old it was a boy, don't be silly.
Anyway, good idea, but would need to get in with sl to implement it.

MichelleofzeResistance · 13/01/2021 19:30

What's not to love?

GavsCloakOfInvisibility · 13/01/2021 19:27

I love this idea.

BlowDryRat · 13/01/2021 19:26

Sounds great to me!