Table of contents for JULY/AUGUST ISSUE 10 GENDER in Pedagogy+

YOU'VE HAD AN INTERESTING JOURNEY TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE IN RELATION TO YOUR WORK. CAN YOU SHARE THIS JOURNEY WITH US? After having a successful career in the corporate world whilst in my 20s, I made a decision to be a stay-at-home mum and was home for seven years. During this time, I became a single parent, and this was when I experienced family violence. I moved from leading a very comfortable middle-class life to suddenly living in poverty with two children and not knowing if they were safe in their other home. It was also during this period that I found myself being unable to secure employment. I mean, no one would employ me, and I had never experienced that before. This was very testing as I…

On a regular basis I have the privilege of visiting early childhood centres around Victoria. It is a highlight of my role as Minister and every visit reinforces the skill and dedication of everyone involved in delivering kindergarten programs. This is especially the case for the teachers and educators who welcome me into their centres and discuss their work. Their expertise and enthusiasm is to be commended. However, this is not always recognised by society where a view persists that it must be ‘nice’ working in early childhood. That it must be ‘nice’ playing with children all day. How hard can it be? The historic and systematic undervaluing of women’s work has existed for too long. The current pay gap in Australia is 13.4% with women earning on average $242.90…

As teachers and educators, we often explore ways to improve our practice through reflection and the exchange of ideas. We might engage in an inspirational professional development session, discover a photograph on Pinterest that transforms the arrangement of our learning environments or engage in a contemplative conversation with a colleague. But how do we know that our practice will make a difference in children’s lives and support them in their learning and development? This is where we take an idea from Pinterest and say to ourselves, 'Wait! Why am I doing this? How is this idea informed by evidence that suggests children are more likely to better develop and learn by engaging in such a way?' So, what is evidence-based practice (EBP) then? Farley et al. (2018) suggest that using…

Telling woman how to dress, whether inside or outside the workplace is hardly new. Dress codes socialise us into gender roles from an early age. Like so many things the rules of dressing are different for women. Early education and care is a gendered sector, so by far the majority of the bodies of educators and teachers are female ones. And female bodies are overwhelmingly a disappointment to their owners, a source of anxiety and a self-improvement project that is never completed, never quite right. From the moment the owners of these bodies were born they have received messages about how their body should look, function and behave. Their weight is a problem which entire corporations are established to deal with. (90% of Weight Watchers members are women.) Women learn…

YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED A LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY, INCLUDING GENDER EQUALITY AND ALSO EQUALITY FOR REFUGEES. WHAT FUELS YOUR WORK IN THIS AREA? My social justice awakening happened 35 years ago. It was my first day working in an early years' service as an unqualified relief educator. Two children were playing in the home corner, and I enthusiastically blurted out, 'Are you playing mummies and daddies?' Cheryl, the coordinator, came running from the office and interjected, 'Or they may be playing mums and mums or dads and dads or grandparents…or just playing. You can be whoever you want to be.' Not long after, a child arrived with a dirty nose and wearing old clothes. I greeted both the child and his parent. Within moments, a girl arrived wearing a…

‘To think another whom I cannot grasp is an important shift, and it challenges the whole scene of pedagogy. It poses other questions to us…Questions such as how the encounter with Otherness, with difference, can take place as responsibly as possible’ (Dahlberg, 2003) ‘WE’RE BORN NAKED, AND THE REST IS DRAG’RUPAUL, 1995 We live in a complex world. We are told that this is a ‘post-truth’ age. An age that is increasingly fragmented. A time of disenchantment and distrust in our institutions, where the shared stories and values that used to bring us together have dissolved and eroded, leaving no shared sense of a society that we can all belong to. Among other things, there are fierce debates over climate change, COVID, vaccinations, and the nature and role of gender.…

May 2021 was a month of celebrations for the team at Margan Wines. Triple accolades and CONGRATULATIONS go to the family winery – Andrew Margan won the coveted Wine Maker of the Year, Hunter Valley Legends. Winemaker Nicole Brasier was recognised for her work in the Hunter Valley, and took out the Reidel Rising Star, Hunter Valley Legends. And Lisa Margan graduated, achieving her WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits – one of the most respected and admired qualifications in the wine industry. We discovered Margan Wines quite by chance and popped in for a tasting – as you do. And we have been popping in ever since! The Margan experience is not to be missed. Magnificent, outstandingly delicious wine, fabulous food, a stylish fit-for-purpose setting and a warm, warm…

They spoke of Mother Earth. A Greco-Roman personification of our globe. They told of Gaia (though she was most definitely originally a tad contrary as the second element of evolution of the cosmos after Chaos, though more lately, with better PR, she has been lauded for benevolence as the organic soul of the globe itself … isn’t it funny how time can change perception). From ancient narratives, we find that many languages are specifically gendered, whilst other common languages surreptitiously imply or impose stereotypical gender constructs that can add or diminish value … or perhaps that is just an old wives’ tale (see what I did there). None the less the globe, the rock we are hurtling through space on, has often historically been personified. Perhaps it is what people…

Michael McGirr is a full time TAFE teacher delivering diploma and degree programs in early childhood. During his career in early childhood education Michael has worked in numerous early childhood environments including OOSHC, preschool and long day care, primarily working at Clovelly Children’s Centre in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. ‘We need more men in the profession’ is a statement I have frequently heard during my twenty-five years in early childhood. With the statement, two questions immediately arise for me: If true, how do we maintain and attract more men to the profession and secondly, (dare I ask), do we actually need more ‘men’ in the profession? Working in early childhood has been, and methinks always will be, my passion. I entered the profession at eighteen years of age, seeking…

And the mirror gazes back with love and acceptance – and responds, '…beauty is unquantifiable, we are all beautiful, I am beautiful' and you smile… Who decides what is and what is not beautiful? Who decides what equates to physical beauty in its many representations? Has what we perceive as the beautiful body changed…you bet your sweet size 16 it has. You only have to look at how the female body has been depicted across millennium – since we first took to adorning the walls of caves to how the great masters embraced the shapely curves of the female form. Or in more recent years, the influence and economics of an ever-burgeoning fashion industry, and the pursuit of brand and achieving the 'ideal body' 'the look' as featured on the…

IGNORANCE MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE (SILIN, 1995, P.132) Gender equality has always been an issue and will be so for some time to come. Over the past several months across Australia, there has been a notable focus on gender equality. Whilst the conversations being had across the nation have focused primarily on gender equality amongst adults, we in the early years' education sector know all too well that a focus on gender equality must start sooner rather than later. Why is this? Children develop knowledge of how to be in this world by watching those around them; these observations happen over time. This knowledge of how to be is not just related to issues of gender but also issues of race, sexuality and socio-economics. It would be foolish of us to…

Deanne Carson is CEO of Body Safety Australia a not-for-profit organisation established in 2015 to promote childhoods free from violence where children enjoy equitable and respectful relationships. ‘I’m never afraid!’ asserts a four year old as we talk about Early Warning Signs, the physical cues in our bodies that alert us to potential danger. Later, his teacher tells me that it’s not true, that she’s observed that he experiences fear and sadness at the same rate as his peers. It’s common for me to meet a boy in an early childhood setting who has already internalised messages about masculinity; their need to be strong, to not cry, to play certain games and ridicule others as ‘girly’. Gender inequity is real. A recent survey from Macquarie University found that 60% of…

A child, 4 years old, sitting on her own near some large grey pebbles in a garden bed, picks one up and swaps it from one hand to another. She looks at the pebble closely before returning her gaze to the ones back in the bed. Selecting another one in her free hand, she brings them close to her face. She looks at both of them side by side before them tapping them together softly. She smiles. Placing the bigger and flatter pebble on the path in front of her, she carefully tries to balance the smaller one on top of it. It slides off. She tries again. It still slides off. She momentarily looks back to the other pebbles in the garden bed, touches one but returns to the…

Semann & Slattery is a proudly feminist organisation Feminism advances and protects the rights of diverse women and girls. Feminism is about learning and understanding the ways that inequality affect women and men. Feminists work towards gender equality for all. Feminism is a fraught terminology – there is a multiplicity of meanings and sometimes contradictory definitions. The popular dictionaries, in general terms define it as the belief in and desire for equality between the sexes. According to Merriam Webster it is the ‘belief in and advocacy of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organised activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests’. And then there are those who tweak the definition to make it their own. Feminist activist bell hooks calls it ‘a movement…

In much the same way as her mum, Associate Professor Alma Fleet has impacted the lives of young children and early years educators. Internationally acclaimed, Alma has contributed as a teacher, a mentor, an academic, an author, a mother and a friend. If you have enjoyed spending time with Alma, her energy and humour are infectious, her knowledge and deep understanding of children, families, curriculum and educators are beyond impressive. A tireless writer, Alma has penned numerous books, book chapters, articles and research papers. We suggest you seek a title and immerse yourself in the learning… Thank you, Alma, for sharing your mum, Jean Siderfin Corry. JEAN SIDERFIN CORRY (1910 – 2003) A tribute to – teacher and mother By Alma Campbell 2020 To me and those who knew her,…

The year is 195 BC. In the Senate, tabled for repeal is the lex Oppia. Roman senators take their sides – those for repeal and those not. lex Oppia, a package of wartime austerity laws enacted in 215 BC., 20 years earlier, restricted not only a woman’s right to personal adornment – the possession and display of precious objects but even regulated their dress and modes of transportation. In Ancient Rome, a rigidly patriarchal society, personal adornment and colourful clothing, especially purple edged with gold, were a woman’s way of proclaiming her identity and social status. Within years of the legislation passing and military success achieved, the rationale for the law had disappeared, but the law’s defenders implemented a new narrative. No longer was the law designed to help fund…

Imagine Me has been developed by Body Safety Australia as a whole of community response to the increase in poor body image and disordered eating that has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Early data from Australia and the UK show an increase of between 30% and 60% in self referrals to eating disorder services and helplines. Body Safety Australia is a primary prevention specialist organisation. With a focus on children and young people, Body Safety Australia utilises a socio-ecological approach to the prevention of harm. This requires us to address the individual, family and socio-cultural risk and protective factors for each harm we intend to prevent. In the case of disordered eating, the National Eating Disorders Collaboration has developed a framework identifying risk and protective factors titled 'Eating Disorders: The…

Source: TeacherToolkit, Teach Thought and educaweb.…

Developing a positive body image requires us to be present in the moment, present in our bodies, tuned in to what our body needs and treating it with kindness and care. the steps listed below are a mix of sensitive care and sensible tasks that have positive outcomes for us all…. spendtimewithgoodfriends or loved ones – be around people who love and accept you, who allow you to build a solid base for self-confidence and belonging make a list of three things that matter most to you in life. Take a few minutes to think about why those things are important to you. Keep the list with you and refer to it when you start to feel the pull of beauty sickness log the amount of time you spend…

9 October 2012, an iconic moment in Australian politics, an unforgettable moment in Australian TV history—Julia Gillard (Prime Minister 2011-2014) addressing the Australian Parliament responding to the then Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Unplanned, just hastily scribbled notes, why did this speech make headlines around the world? The Prime Minister’s delivery was on-point and impassioned. Julia Gillard’s words resonated with the lived experience of women and spoke to the frustration of women—we all know what it is like to live with misogyny and sexism. The message was empowering, encouraging us to call out sexism, hypocrisy and gendered double standards. Excerpts from Julia Gillard’s Speech 9 October 2012 as retrieved from the SMH 10 October 2012. …I say to the Leader of the Opposition I will not be lectured about sexism and…

I woke up this morning and the sun was shining through my pink curtains. I told my mum that I like orange better, but she said pink was prettier for a 4-year-old girls’ room. I wanted to wear my blue jeans today. My best friend Jonathan wears blue jeans and I like it when we dress the same. Mum tells me I don’t want to wear blue jeans, so I wear the purple dress and pink shoes she brings out of the cupboard. When I get to kinder, I see Jonathan. I want to rush over, but mum tells me to slow down. As I walk into the room, Alex – my teacher, tells me I look so pretty in my purple dress. No one tells Jonathan that he looks…

'The right of all people to vote in elections without any discrimination, is one of the most fundamental of all human rights' (Australian Human Rights Commision, 2010) Exercising our right to vote is a fundamental human right. Achieving women’s right to vote was a hard fought struggle by our suffrage sisters, with universal suffrage a relatively recent privilege. It is important that we honour this hard-won-franchise and the achievements of the suffragists, our early feminists and draw inspiration to fuel the work still to be done. As we move towards celebrating 120 years of suffrage, it is critical that we take time to reflect on women’s rights today and acknowledge that more than a century later, there is still much to do to improve women’s status and rights in Australia…

The recent unearthing of an ancient burial jar has archaeologists pondering women’s political role and status in early Bronze Age society. Found in the ancient urn, buried some 3,700 years ago, were the remains of a man and woman and a repertoire of jewellery. Splendidly adorned, most of the pieces were ascribed to her. The finest piece a beautifully crafted silver diadem, laid crownlike gracing her skull. His funerary goods were of lesser quality, including a dagger and sword. For modern archaeologists, the disparity between the quality of the pieces raised an eyebrow. The site around the burial area was also remarkable. ‘Of equally exceptional character is the building under which the grave was found—possibly one of the first Bronze Age palaces identified in Western Europe’ (Lull et al, 2021).…

At what age should consent education start? When should children be taught to understand what gender stereotypes are and why gender inequity is harmful? When should they be taught how to keep themselves safe from sexual assault? To answer that question, we need to know some statistics about what Australian children actually experience. Harsh, distressing and scary statistics… An Australian birth cohort study found that at age 21 years, child sexual abuse was self-reported by 19.3% of males and 30.6% of females (Mills, Kisely, Alati, Strathearn & Najman, 2016). Approximately25millionAustralian adults (13%) have experienced abuse during their childhood. This includes 1.6 million adults (8.5%) who experienced childhood physical abuse and 1.4 million adults (7.7%) who experienced childhood sexual abuse. The majority of children who experienced childhood abuse knew the…

Mission Australia conducted its 19th annual survey of young people aged 15-19 in 2020. The survey aims to identify young people’s values, aspirations and concerns. This year’s survey had a special focus on young people’s experiences of unfair treatment and COVI D-19. 25,80 RESPONDENTS aged 15-19 years 56% Female 41% Male 2% Gender Diverse 4% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander 20% spoke a language other than English at home Top 3 factors to securing a job: Top 3 personal concerns: More than double the proportion of females were extremely / very concerned about coping with stress (56% compared with 25% of males) Since 2019, the % of young people identifying EQUITY and DISCRIMINATION as an issue of national importance has increased from 25% to 40% Top 3 most important…