Out of the mouths of babes: children and stereotyping

This paper explores how children acquire gender roles through cultural input, particularly via language and literature. While traditional school readers often reinforce gender stereotypes—depicting boys as active and dominant, and girls as passive and decorative—children’s own creative output tells a different story. An analysis of Far Out, Brussel Sprout, a collection of children’s rhymes, reveals minimal gender bias, with characters often portrayed as gender-neutral and roles shared more equally. However, illustrations in the book sometimes reintroduce stereotypes, subtly shaping perceptions. The study suggests that while institutional texts may influence gender norms, children’s spontaneous expressions reflect a more egalitarian view, highlighting the importance of critically examining all forms of input in early education (AI generated descritpion, Coppilot)