Browsing by Subject "feminism"

Goal. The purpose of this study is to provide a research-based insight into pupils' thoughts and experiences about gender identity and gender stereotypes. Studies have shown that it is no longer possible to simply divide children into girls and boys, and that children who do not fit into these compartments suffer in school. Gender stereotypes also have an impact on children’s success in school. To be able to create a safe school for everyone, education and research into the topic is required, which is the aim of this dissertation. Methods. The dissertation was performed as an interview study in which students in years 5 and 6 participated. All in all, 18 students participated from a Swedish-language primary school. Of these, half were 5th year students and the other half 6th year. 12 students identified themselves as girls and 6 as boys. The interview data was analyzed with thematic analysis. Results and conclusions. The students were all comfortable and happy with their gender identity, and they had a positive attitude towards children with other gender identities. Their stereotypes were based quite far on dividing the world into two, where hobbies, interests and clothes are either "boyish" or "girly". However, they had strong views on individual freedom, that everyone should be allowed to do as they wished, regardless of gender. The students had a great deal of confidence in their teachers but described strong negative feelings in case the teacher did not approve of their gender identity. However, many felt that teachers treated boys and girls differently, but that their school was still a relatively equal place where you could be yourself. The results indicate that primary school students are dependent on their teachers for the development of gender stereotypes and the creation of equality in school. If a student feels insecure with their teacher, school success and the student's well-being suffer. Teachers must be familiar with research on gender and stereotypes to counteract these preconceived notions and create a school where everyone can be themselves. Future research could investigate the impact of different types of education on both students' and teachers' gender stereotypes, as well as the development of practical methods for creating an inclusive school for everyone.