A new short film launched by the Gender Friendly Nursery programme aims to promote awareness of the impact of gender stereotypes on what children believe they can and can’t do, how they should dress and behave, and what society expects of them.

The 10-minute film featuring Still Game’s Jane McCarry (Isa), asks children questions about what it means to them to be a boy or a girl. It is used as part of a training course offered to nursery establishments across Glasgow, highlighting the links between gender stereotypes, gender inequality and a range of public health issues including gender based violence, mental health and suicide, difficulties facing LGBT people, parenting and inequalities in education and the workforce. The Gender Friendly Nursery programme supports staff to recognise these links and their important role in combatting gender stereotypes, and provides tools and an award scheme to develop this in their setting.

Barbara Adzajlic, Health Improvement Senior with North East Health Improvement Team (NEHIT), said: “We were using an older, American film within the training to introduce the ideas, but found that staff questioned whether children in Glasgow today would give the same responses. So to find out, we decided to make our own version. We were pleased to be awarded NHS Endowments funding in 2019 to make this film with Soundsmove, and have now finally been able to launch it.”

Susie Heywood, Health Improvement Senior, NEHIT, added: “The result is a lot of great comedy moments, with a serious message about how stereotypes can limit children’s view of themselves in the world. Our training participants are often surprised at the wide-ranging impacts of gender inequality, but are also inspired to make changes to their practice because they see how important it is and now have the tools to do so.”

Link to film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak4p8y2CxDU

More information on the Gender Friendly Nursery can be found at: www.nhsggc.org.uk/gbvresources