Tips That Changed My Childhood

“Gender equality starts at home: Seven tips for raising feminist kids”

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/5/compilation-gender-equality-starts-at-home

There’s just a few more tips I would like to share with this blog. These are tips that I find to be extremely important and pivotal in my own feminist upbringing. 

I would first like to talk about body shame. It has been normalized for adults to hate their bodies – always wanting to change, always comparing ourselves. This is no example to set for our children! We want to create a more body positive world and it begins with us. Children see how we look and talk about ourselves. Inspire your children to love their body, just as it is. Teach them how capable and strong their bodies are. Creating acceptance in ourselves and our children, helps spread this view. If they know how to love and accept themselves, they learn how to do it for others too! This is the kind of positivity we hope to see, and this is how to accomplish it.

Next is to listen to your children and learn from them. As they grow older they will start to express their needs and interests. This does not only pertain to toys, but also social issues, for example. Expose them to the world and teach them about what they find interest in. Let them explore what they care about. Help them foster passion. The article mentions Malala and Greta, both young role models who have supportive parents behind them. They are making a difference because their parents let them dig deep. 

What played the biggest role in my childhood feminism was the ongoing discussion about it. In my house we talked about feminism. Maybe we did not use that exact word, (though it doesn’t hurt to!) but my parents taught my sisters and I about women’s rights and our ability to change the world. They talked about the importance of diversity and being kind to everyone. They taught us how to accept people for their differences. In a way, I learned to idolize those who were different than me, because I had something to learn from them. We were exposed to a variety of role models and were encouraged to explore. I truly feel like these lessons turned me into who I am today: A proud feminist.