Preschool Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Children’s Gender Roles: The Effects of Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Personal Experiences of Gender Discrimination

Abstract

In line with the theory of planned behaviour, different factors influencing the formation of attitudes and beliefs indirectly affect the intentions that determine an individual’s behaviour. Hence, it is important to examine the factors affecting the attitudes of preschool teachers towards children’s gender roles considering that their own understanding of gender roles influences their behaviour towards children in kindergarten (which can be in agreement with the egalitarian or stereotypical attitudes of preschool teachers). Therefore, a quantitative research was conducted in Zagreb (Croatia) on a sample of 481 preschool teachers. The research was aimed at determining the effects of socio-demographic characteristics, religious (non)affiliation and personal experiences of gender discrimination during childhood on the attitudes of preschool teachers towards children’s gender roles and on the frequency of noticing unequal treatment of boys and girls in kindergarten by other preschool teachers. The findings revealed that preschool teachers who have identified themselves as non-religious or religiously non-affiliated who were brought up in larger cities, with a personal experience of gender discrimination in childhood, more frequently notice unequal treatment of boys and girls in kindergarten (by other preschool teachers). Among the mentioned variables, the strongest effect on noticing unequal treatment of boys and girls in kindergarten has the variable experience of gender discrimination during childhood which confirms greater awareness of gender discrimination among persons who experienced such discrimination. Keywords: children’s gender roles, gender equality, preschool education, preschool teachers’ attitudes.

Pendidikan Keluarga Dalam Pengenalan Identitas Dan Peran Gender Pada Anak Usia Dini

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“…Selain memberikan contoh, orang tua juga membiasakan anak untuk terlibat dalam kegiatan sehari-hari dengan harapan agar anak dapat memahami perannya. Menurut teori sosial Bandura, anak belajar melalui meniru orang-orang yang ada di lingkungan terdekat dan sering ditemui (Rogošić et al, 2020). Menurut Bandura dalam teori pembelajaran sosialnya, dua hal yang berpengaruh dalam pembentukan perilaku manusia yaitu modeling dan regulasi diri.…”

The Development and Initial Tests for the Psychometric Properties of the Equal Opportunity in Education Scale

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Preschool Teachers' Perceptions of Gender in the Classroom: A multifaceted examination

“…Attitude and value development begins at an early age, through which children learn behaviors that may or may not be acceptable in a particular social context (Rogosic, Maskalan & Krznar, 2020). Gender is a concept that defines the social roles and responsibilities of men and women depending on how society perceives them and what behaviors and attitudes are expected from them in the society (Zeybekoğlu, 2013).…”