Teach Gender Equality in the Classroom

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD).  A day to celebrate the achievements of women in history and advocate for a gender-balanced world. This year’s theme is  #BalanceforBetter. March is Women’s History Month – commemorating and encouraging the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.  The theme for 2019 is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence.”

International Women’s Day and Women’s History month provide us the important opportunity to educate and inspire students about the role of women in society.  To not only recognize and honor the battles that have been won by women, for women but also to continue to challenge the gender stereotypes and biases that continue to drive inequality today. 

“Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”

~ Unknown

Classroom education about gender equality is the most grassroots difference anyone can make to advance women’s rights. Research shows that gender bias at primary school can have long-lasting implications for pupils, and children as young as three years old already become aware of gender differences and absorb stereotypes about the activities, toys or traits and skills that are associated with each gender.

Check out the following resources to help champion women’s rights in your classroom:

• 2019 IWD Teacher Resources
• Women’s Rights Resources (HRE USA Library)
• Female Identity and Gender Expectations (Teaching Tolerance)
• Equal Rights – What Gets in the Way? (Womankind)
• Women’s Rights Around the World (ActionAid)
• Women’s History Month lessons (NEA)
• Women’s Suffrage in the U.S. (Rutgers)