Jonathan knows his father gets irritated with him for not being strong enough to help on the farm, and for spending time shaping the wax from their bees into little animals instead of helping – especially since money is tight. When she shares with him her passion to go to university, he eventually makes her wish come true.ģ. When Ruby’s teacher shows her grandfather a poem that Ruby has written about the unequal treatment of boys and girls - “Alas, bad luck to be born a girl worse luck to be/ born into this house where only boys are cared for.” – Ruby is called to speak with him. Fortunately, her grandfather is supportive of educating both boys and girls, so she is able to study – but she also has to keep up with learning the household duties of a woman. But while flying her machine to the show, she must enact a daring rescue.Īlthough most girls of the time aren’t allowed to learn to read and write, Ruby has a longing for learning. When she sees the air show is coming to town, Violet decides to build the best plane ever to show the town what she can do. The kids at school tease her, so Violet’s only friend is her dog Orville. Unlike the other girls in town, Violet loves to build things – like flying machines.

To that list you can add these 11 children’s picture books that shatter gender stereotypes. Previously we created a list of picture books that challenge traditional gender roles. One vital tool for doing so is to use children’s books. Since children develop gender preferences and stereotypes early, it’s important that we humane educators cultivate an understanding of healthy gender identity and roles. And men can (sometimes) express their feelings (in certain cases), and can be stay-at-home dads and do the laundry now.īut if we pay attention to news, pop culture, politics, and even preschool playground conversations, it’s clear that the systems and messages embedded in our culture are still strongly aligned with more traditional and stereotypical ideologies. After all, women are CEOs and scientists and MMA fighters. Just as we like to pretend that we live in a post-racial society, many of us want to avoid talking about sexism, stereotypes, and gender inequities.

Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges