The IncludED Reading List: Part 1
Here are a few insightful reads to kickstart your thinking on gender and early childhood education!
Gender Transformative Education by UNICEF
One of the first and most engaging works we read on gender and early childhood, this report highlights how education can do more than just get children into classrooms - it can transform how society thinks about gender. Through real-world examples from Nepal to Zimbabwe, the report shows how schools can become catalysts for change - training teachers to recognise bias, empowering students to challenge stereotypes, and engaging entire communities in supporting gender equality.
Gender stereotypes about intellectual ability emerge early and influence children’s interests
In our conversation last week, Temina Madon and Sowjanya Kanuri shared a fascinating study about children's perceptions of genius and brilliance. The findings reveal a striking pattern: At age 5, both boys and girls tend to associate exceptional intelligence with their own gender. However, a dramatic shift occurs by age 6 – girls become significantly less likely to choose women as "really, really smart," despite consistently outperforming their male peers academically, especially in early elementary school. Read a condensed version of the study here.
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024
Pratham’s Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, released on January 28th, sheds light on some fascinating trends. The good news? Boys and girls start off on an equal footing in early numeracy skills. But as they move up the grades, the gap begins to widen—raising important questions about access, learning environments, and opportunities.
And it’s not just in the classroom. Digital access remains a big gender divide. While 36.2% of boys own a smartphone, only 26.9% of girls do—a disparity seen across every state. This means fewer girls have the chance to explore online learning, digital tools, and career-building resources. ASER’s findings are a reminder that while we’ve made progress in gender parity in school enrolments, the fight for equal learning opportunities isn’t over.