March 8th is International Women's Day and the theme of this year's celebration is #EmbraceEquity.
The focus will be on how gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA.
But what does that even mean?
Equity can be defined as giving everyone what they need to be successful.
It's not giving everyone the exact same thing. If we give everyone the exact same thing, expecting that will make people equal, it assumes that everyone started out in the same place - and this can be vastly inaccurate because everyone isn't the same.
How to teach kids about equity
Teaching children about equity from an early age will help them to build an understanding of what it means and how it affects the world.
And it's critical that they understand the difference between equity and equality.
The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren't enough.
That might seem like a very adult conversation to have with young kids. But the earlier you speak to them in an age-appropriate way about what equity and equality mean, the better.
Join the conversation
- Start conversations: They may be young. but children can identify inequity in the world. They may see two children being treated differently at school or they may hear a story on the news that highlights inequity. Adults can use these opportunities to open a conversation and ask the child how it makes them feel.
- Do your homework: Educate yourself by doing your research, practicing, and checking your own biases.
- Keep it age-appropriate: Reading picture books or watching a video together can offer a great starting point for conversations.
- Don't pretend: It’s okay to not have all of the answers, and it's important to tell your child when you don't and then figure out together how to get an answer.
- Celebrate diversity: A fun way to learn is to celebrate different cultures, religions, genders and abilities.
- Teach inclusive language: Language reflects values, attitudes, beliefs, prejudices, and principles.
- Demonstrate fairness: Many children will form beliefs and opinions based on what they see their parents do or what they hear them say. Remember - little ears are always listening.