Exploring gendered professions in nursery rhymes: Implications for learning and social interaction
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The significance of early childhood literature in development and perpetuation of ideas and concepts in the minds of toddlers and preschoolers is well-established. A large body of work talks about the impact and role of children's literature in the process of child development but very less or negligible importance is given to the way stereotypes are formed based on the reading and recital by children. Stereotypes generally serve as an underlying justification for prejudice. The formation and development of stereotypes and prejudices is based on the process of social categorization which is majorly related to personal experience and social learning. The paper argues that the language of early childhood literature, nursery rhymes in particular, plays a pivotal role in the perpetuation of stereotypes relating to gendered roles and therefore a reassessment of nursery rhymes is crucial to promote gender equality, the focal point being the professional roles. The Method of Critical Discourse Analysis is used to analyze the nursery rhymes taught at preschools and primary schools in the city of Ahmedabad. The analysis reflects a need for re-imagining rhymes for fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
Authors: Batul Kakkai, Nigam Dave
Institution: Pandit Deendayal Energy University
Language: English
Topic: Gender Studies in Language
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4412473126