Experiment No. 26: Flip the Script

The Basics

Target Audience: Children
Ages: All ages
Category: Holidays and celebrations
Estimated Time: 15 minutes - 2 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy

She Persisted and Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls tell tales of perseverance and success from women who have challenged gender stereotypes — including NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, artist Frida Kahlo, and musician Joan Jett. This practice stems from Social Cognitive Theory, which demonstrates that when children have role-models that look like themselves, they believe their own success is more attainable. In a world full of images of women created to be supporting characters and love-interests, these books aim to offer a counter-point, providing girls with alternative options.

Of course, it is inspiring for young female painters to read about Frida Kahlo and for young female musicians to learn about Joan Jett. But it is also important for young male mathematicians to study the work and life of women like Katherine Johnson. In other words, boys and young men must understand and respect that women are just as powerful, talented, and intelligent as they are.

While conducting research for my upcoming book, Equal Partners, it has become evident to me that if we truly want to recalibrate household responsibilities and attain something close to parity in the home, we must tackle gender stereotypes. We must normalize women in power — not just for little girls — but for little boys, too. Because boys who grow up loving and respecting strong women often transfer that respect to future partners, colleagues, friends, neighbors, and children.

This holiday season, we recommend that you “flip the script” and give books that role-model strength and power in an identity different from the recipient of the gift in order to spotlight the talents of historically marginalized populations. We are providing a Resource List with a range of ideas (see below). As an extra Covid-19 holiday measure, we ask friends and family to consider giving busy parents a little break. For kids outside your bubble, try scheduling time to read one or more of these books via video. This will give parents a breather while building a supportive network across quarantine bubbles. (I speak from experience. Parents facilitating virtual learning will most likely LOVE family and friends keeping their kids occupied for 15-30 minutes on the weekend.)

Flipping the script need not stop with normalizing strong women for boys. White children need to see power and knowledge role-modeled by biracial, indigenous, and people of color; able-bodied children need to see strength in those with a disability; books from the LGBTQ+ community should be made available to all.

Directions

1. For younger kids and/or shorter periods of time, choose a book that can be read in 10-15 minutes.

• For those children inside your bubble, you can curl up on the couch and read the books together. Then add the new titles to your normal book-reading rotation.
• For those children outside your bubble, set up a time to read to kids via video call. (Don’t want to buy two copies? Contact your local library for help accessing free e-books.)

1. For longer stretches of time, choose a movie that role-models strength and power.

• For children inside your bubble, you can make some popcorn and watch together as a part of a family movie night. There’s no need for a discussion afterward; simply celebrating power in a range of identities is enough. But be prepared for questions if they arise.

For children outside your bubble, you can take advantage of simultaneous viewing from Teleparty. This program works with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO. I admit, it isn’t quite the same as sharing the same popcorn bowl — but it is a great way for a shared movie experience during this Covid-19 winter. (Disney+ also has their own format called Group Watch.) Afterwards, family or friends from outside the children’s bubble could have a video call with the kids to talk about the film and what characters they liked the best.

Connect With the Better Life Lab

Are you going to try this week’s experiment? Do you have a story about how you and your own family solved a problem with the work at home? Is there a specific challenge you’ve been trying to tackle? Can this experiment be improved? Please let us know via this form, at bllx@newamerica.org, or in our Facebook group for BLLx Beta Testers.

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This experiment was written by Kate Mangino, a gender equality consultant and author of the forthcoming book, Equal Partners.