Community: Creating and enjoying a network of people who are supportive and think similarly about gender equity.

How Community relates to Gender Equity.

Having supportive people in our lives to openly discuss our ideas with is particularly important when we are going against the status quo. With these people, we can share our struggles, insights, successes, failures, and resources. Building a community also gives our children other adults and children to watch and interact with who value gender equity.

Examples of what Community looks like in an adult.

• Someone who has people in their* life who share and support their values.
• An adult who likes meeting new people and making new friends.
• Someone who organizes opportunities for people to get together.
• An adult who attends gatherings held by others who share their values.
• Someone who has at least one person they can be 100% authentic with (in addition to being 100% authentic with themselves).
• An adult who continues learning from others who’ve created books, articles, talks, podcasts, on-line groups, etc. that support, challenge, and inspire.
• Someone who feels supported by their network and happy most of the time.
• An adult who considers who is already in their life who may be a great ally.
• Someone who notices who may want support related to gender equity and can offer it.

Examples of how we can teach Community to our child.

• Actively seek out families who value gender equity. Look for parents who defy stereotypes.
• Pay attention to which kids in our child’s life enjoy a wider variety of activities and interests.
• Notice which kids in our child’s life play well with other kids, regardless of gender.
• Host gatherings and playtimes at our home with kids and families we want to see more of.
• Attend other gatherings that we’re invited to by families we want to build relationships with.
• Include both girls and boys in playtimes, gatherings at our home, and birthday parties. Use inclusive terms like “kids,” “children,” “classmates,” “friends,” and “teammates” (instead of “girls” and “boys”) to help facilitate inclusive play.
• Continue to meet new families and be open to making new friends.
• Be part of organizations and activities that practice gender equity: 4-H, co-ed sports leagues, classes and groups based on interests (music, geocaching, etc.)
• Have adults and kids around who are exploring everything life has to offer; not stuck in society’s stereotypes. They can role-model that “anything goes” and the fun that results.
• Have adults and kids around who are supporting your child in exploring everything life has to offer.

*I am using “they/their/theirs/them/themselves” as singular pronouns.

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Developing Whole Children

Self Awareness | Reciprocity | Full Personhood | Equality | Physical Ownership | Verbal Conflict Resolution | Emotional Wellness | Advocacy | Humility | Authenticity | Contribution | Resiliency | Joy | Gratitude | Community | Critical Thinking