The activity was baking buns. The mixture was ready and the children were ready to choose a coloured bun case. When it came to my turn I chose pink.
Two of the girls giggled, then commented,
‘You can’t choose pink its a girls colour.’ Other children around the table agreed.
I asked, ‘Why?’
‘It just is. We have pink and boys have blue.’
I then said, ‘I like pink and it’s a colour I have chosen.’
Then one of the boys spoke up saying that he liked pink too.
I feel that my choice gave him the courage to share his preference. The conversation confirmed to the children that everyone can have a favourite colour and they should be free to make their own choice.
Gender Respect Project 2013-2016 