Gender Justice in Early Childhood is a collective of educators, researchers, therapists, academics, artists and activists dedicated to supporting gender justice in early childhood through community engaged scholarship, training, resource creation, and more.
GJEC collective members consist of a mix of trans, nonbinary and cisgender individuals who aim to disrupt gender oppression. We recognize and honor that multiple forms of oppression, privilege and identity affect the lives of children and adults, and that gender is interconnected with other social identities.
We acknowledge that there are significant limitations to our work based on our lack of racial diversity (we are currently all white), trans femme representation and other intersectional identities that are not represented in our group. GJEC strives to contribute to the ongoing work of community activists, and honor and uplift the work of trans and gender expansive Black, Brown and Indigenous peoples throughout history and today.
GJEC is part of the Gender Liberation in Early Childhood Network (GLECN), and endorses GLECN’s points of unity:
Child Agency: The child (/individual of any age) gets to determine their own gender.
Role of adult: As adults (educators, family members, etc), our job is to support the child, not question or diagnose them.
Inclusion: We want to create early childhood settings where people of all genders (including gender identities and expressions) are welcome, seen, and supported. We want gender diversity, not the gender binary, to be the norm/worldview we present to children. (Corresponds to Anti-bias Education goals 1 & 2.)
Anti-oppression: Simultaneously, we recognize that people, institutions and systems have power invested in maintaining binary gender and patriarchy. We want to create early childhood settings where children learn to name and act against these forms of injustice. (Corresponds to Anti-bias Education goals 3 & 4.)
Collective Liberation: Gender liberation is linked to all other forms of liberation; none of us are free until all of us are free! This gender work is part of a broader anti-bias education framework and cannot be done in a vacuum.