“Didi we don’t play cricket, we play different games” said the girls from one of the government primary schools.
Children having a choice of their own is fairly productive. After all free play is vital for kids. Unless it involves gender-specific myths. Like baby boomers were raised with the ‘pink for girls, blue for boys’ binary. This was foisted by the community and has never been the end of the story.
From toys to a career choice, gender specific myths are feeding into the commercialise and sexualization of childhood.
This restricts rural development and also remains unnoticed.
I tried to convince them by encouraging and comforting them with my presence. One girl was willing to join but they knew it was an interruption for the boys. My co-fellow somehow convinced the boys and he started playing with the little girl. Her game was appreciative for a beginner. I could notice the joy on her face but I knew it won’t last after we leave.
Girls don’t play in the dirt or wrestle. They must appear to the world like that pretty doll one play’s with. These are sensitive issues and I’m sure many organisations and feminist are trying to promote the same. I’m also aware of such initiatives being criticised as thrusting of gender and feminist politics on children, I would like to be supported with ideas or initiatives that can help me transform choices of many girls from the rural villages I’m working with.
I have chosen this school for myself in this fellowship journey. Hoping to participate in encouraging these girls toward sports with time.
Any ideas that can help for shifting some unnecessary gender-specific practices in these remote villages are welcome. ?