What essays of 11-year-olds tell us about the importance of gender norms

Uta Bolt –Research Fellow University of Bristol

Uta is a lecturer at the University of Bristol and a Research Fellow at the IFS. Her main research interest is the development of inequalities over the lifecycle and across generations.

Despite significant progress over the past decades, women still earn less than men.… Read more

Primary School Sports – What’s the Problem?

Should primary schools have separate girls and boys team for sport?

Peter Woolton has been a primary school practitioner for over 20 years. He volunteered in youth work and schools prior to his qualifying as a teacher. During his time in schools, he has held a number of roles including Class Teacher, Assessment Manager, Assistant Head Teacher, Curriculum Manager and Governor.… Read more

“Boys don’t play with girls!”

Preschool children’s role in reinforcing gender stereotypes in early childhood education.

Cathy Kilburn recently completed a PhD in preschool children’s experience of gender stereotype reinforcement and policing within early childhood education settings. She is a lecturer of early childhood education at the University of Hull.

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Finding the women in history

By Karin Doull

Karin Doull is an Honorary Research Fellow at Roehampton University. She has been a fellow of the Historical Association was a Chartered Teacher of History (CT Hist) and writes extensively for the Primary History journal. She is also active in promoting history through workshops, webinars and conference seminars.… Read more

International Men’s Day is for Everyone

By David Bartlett

David Bartlett is an internationally-known freelance consultant, researcher and trainer on gender equality, masculinities and fatherhood.  He works with statutory and third sector organisations and businesses to support strategic approaches to promoting gender justice and positive masculinities. 

It’s International Men’s Day this Friday, 19th November.  Had… Read more

A sporting summer?

By Heather Smith

Heather Smith is the Head of UK Programmes at Plan International UK, leading the strategic development and delivery of Plan International UK’s domestic work.  Ensuring the excellent delivery of existing programmes and working with the team to develop new programmes and relationships, with a focus on the long-term sustainability of the charity’s work through fundraising.… Read more

Promoting Gender Equality in a Hospital School

By Danielle Valder

Danielle Valdar is Assistant Headteacher and responsible for curriculum delivery at The Children’s Hospital School at Great Ormond Street Hospital. To celebrate the 72nd birthday of the NHS this week, Danielle has written about her experiences of being part of the Lifting Limits programme.… Read more

Lockdown fathers

Much has been written about how the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities, not least along gender lines.  With reduced work time and disproportionate job loses for mothers, women under-represented in decision making roles and over-represented in high risk caring roles, and with domestic violence escalating, the outlook has in many respects looked bleak for gender equality. … Read more

Open letter: Early intervention essential to address violence against women and girls

With media attention on violence against women and girls over the last few months, it is crucial to recognise that the conditions which feed such violence fester from childhood.  The link between the gender stereotyping which surrounds young children and a range of unequal and unacceptable outcomes, including male violence against women and girls, is clear and established.  Compelling… Read more