Gender sociologist Cecilie Nørgaard and illustrator Line Jensen published their book “Se mig lige” on Tuesday, arguing that Danish adults still treat boys and girls differently in everyday life.
The book is released by the publisher People’s Press. DR reports that Nørgaard has worked with gender and norms for more than 20 years, and that her central message has stayed the same.
According to DR, that message is that gender equality is created in childhood. Nørgaard tells the broadcaster that much has changed in Danish society over two decades, but that differences remain widespread.
Everyday examples
Nørgaard points to two recent cases. As reported by TV MidtVest, a father received hate messages after posting a photo of his son dressed in pink.
She also refers to children’s clothing sizes. Politiken has reported that girls’ shorts are on average six centimeters shorter than boys’ shorts.
Such examples may look small, but Nørgaard describes them as very important. Per her account to DR, they show how much value is attached to gender and how narrow the norms are.
In the book, she describes toy stores as divided universes. Boys’ toys are broadly blue, green and action oriented, while girls’ toys are pink and care oriented, she tells DR.
Nørgaard says the problem arises when expectations become so narrow that some children feel they do not fit in. That can lead to poor well being and low self esteem, and some children may avoid interests or educations, she tells DR.
She also describes different assumptions about children’s bodies. Boys are expected to be better at gross motor skills and less able to sit still, while girls are expected to have finer motor control.
According to Nørgaard, these ideas are not natural laws. She notes that around 100 years ago it was more common to describe girls as the restless sex.
Another example is the sorting of children at birthday parties in schools and daycare. DR cites a count that is a couple of years old, showing that half of all pedagogues divide boys and girls during activities.
Nørgaard also points to help at home. A press release from UNICEF states that girls spend 160 million more hours a day on household chores than boys.
She links that pattern to conditions later in life. Men are paid more, she tells DR, even though women overall work more when paid and unpaid work is counted together on the Danish labour market.
