Gender education of preschoolers through children’s literature

The article analyzes the role of gender education in the educational process of preschoolers. The essence and tasks of gender education, its impact on the formation of a child’s personality, are revealed. The necessity of overcoming gender stereotypes and creating conditions for the self-realization of each child is substantiated. Attention is focused on the importance of forming children’s understanding of equality and mutual respect regardless of gender. The article also reveals the influence of children’s literature on gender socialization and the formation of gender roles. It is shown that gender education should promote the development of critical thinking about gender stereotypes, expand the possibilities of self-knowledge and free choice of the child. The article analyzes the content of the fairy tales “The Mitten”, “The Cat and the Rooster”, and “Krut and Vert”, in which animals are anthropomorphized, endowed with human traits and stereotypical gender roles. Attention is focused on the fact that the fairy tale “The Cat and the Rooster” reflects traditional gender roles, as well as emphasizes the importance of friendship and mutual assistance. It is highlighted how the fairy tale “Krut and Vert” demonstrates gender stereotypes through the distribution of responsibilities between the mice and the rooster. The fairy tale “The Tale of Offense”, which reveals the process of personality formation through the prism of gender roles and suggests ways to overcome stereotypes, is analyzed separately. The article also provides recommendations for choosing children’s books to form gender awareness, emphasizing the importance of diversity, avoiding stereotypes, equality, and the possibility of self-expression.