Охоплення: Niche

Countering Stereotypes in Early Childhood Education

Context

In school and preschool environments, gender stereotypes are often reproduced through traditional celebration practices and “customary” educational activities. Defenders of Ukraine Day is frequently mistakenly perceived as a “boys’ day” or unconsciously reproduces the Soviet narrative of the “Defender of the Fatherland Day,” which contradicts both the historical meaning of the holiday and the principles of gender equality.

Educators and parents often find themselves without clear guidance on how to talk with children about war, protection, and military service in ways that do not reinforce stereotypical gender roles from an early age. In this context, specialized educational media play an important role in shaping a modern culture of upbringing and education.

What Has Been Done

Responding to Facebook discussions among parents seeking advice on “buying gifts for boys,” Vchysia.Media published a comprehensive guide “Focusing on Protection, Not Gender: How to Celebrate Defenders Day in Preschools and Schools” for teachers and parents explaining the inclusive history of the holiday and offering non-stereotypical classroom activity ideas.

The article:

  • debunks myths about the holiday being exclusively “for men”;
  • explains why equating it with the Soviet celebration tradition is incorrect;
  • provides a brief historical overview and practical recommendations for educators and parents;
  • clearly emphasizes that this is a day of respect for all who defend Ukraine, regardless of gender.

How It Was Implemented

The material was created in a multi-format format: an analytical article on the website and an illustrated carousel for social media.

The publication was prompted by real questions from parents on social networks who were asking for advice on how to “congratulate boys” in kindergartens. The editorial team transformed this request into high-quality educational content with clear explanations and practical guidance. The text was written as a response to society, without moralizing, in language accessible to parents and educators.

As Inna Lykhovyd, Editor-in-Chief of Vchysia.Media, explained:

“On the eve of Defenders of Ukraine Day, we came across several Facebook posts in which mothers of preschool children were discussing how to congratulate boys on the holiday and what gifts to choose for them. We saw that many parents still associate this day with the Soviet ‘Defender of the Fatherland Day.’ That is why we decided to prepare an educational article explaining the history of the holiday, why it should not be considered a ‘men’s day,’ and how it can be celebrated in educational institutions without reinforcing gender stereotypes and while placing the emphasis correctly. Perhaps the text did not receive a large number of views, but for a young media outlet whose website had existed for only five months, that was not decisive. What mattered much more to our team was taking a clear position and becoming a source of quality, verified information about this holiday that parents and educators could return to whenever needed.”

Impact

The material became a source of verified and systematized information for parents and educators. In particular, the publication:

  • reinforced the editorial team’s position against gender stereotypes in children’s upbringing;
  • has long-term value and can be reused as a reference resource;
  • demonstrates that educational impact is not always measured by the number of views, but by the depth and sustainability of its content.

What Other Media Can Learn From This

  • Listen to audience questions on social media and turn them into structured, verified educational content.
  • Explain sensitive topics in simple and accessible language, focusing on parents and educators as key agents of change.
  • Challenge stereotypes at early stages of socialization, especially in topics related to childhood and education.
  • Combine historical context with practical advice so that materials are not only informative but also applicable in practice.
  • Do not focus exclusively on reach metrics; work with value-based topics that help build a culture of equality and respect in the long term.

Overcoming Ethnic Stereotypes Through Personal Stories and Role Models in the Media

Context

The Roma community in Ukraine often faces multiple forms of discrimination—based on ethnicity, gender, social status, and health condition. Educated Roma women are almost absent from the public media space, which reinforces stereotypes about the “impossibility” of education, professional achievement, and leadership for women from this community.

In this context, media created by the community itself play a key role in shaping an alternative narrative—one grounded in the community’s own voices, experiences, and achievements.

Zinaida Prokopenko, author and head of the media project Roma Are Us and advocacy adviser to the NGO Voice of Romni, explains:

“We began systematically implementing these changes in 2024, when our TikTok channel started growing rapidly and attracting a broad audience. That was when we realized that content about the Roma community generated a strong response, but also required a professional approach to language, ethics, and representation. We therefore created the YouTube channel ‘Roma Are Us’ and defined clear principles for ourselves: non-discriminatory communication, gender-sensitive presentation of materials, and representation of diverse voices within the community. These changes allowed us to move from amateur activism to a conscious media platform that builds trust and strengthens the leadership of Roma women and youth.”

What Was Done

The multimedia platform Roma Are Us produced a YouTube video interview/podcast featuring a Roma woman with a university degree who publicly shared her life story. The material focuses not on vulnerability, but on the protagonist’s agency and strength.

The interview highlights:

  • her experience of overcoming bullying and discrimination at school and university;
  • the intersection of several forms of vulnerability—ethnic identity, gender, and health condition;
  • her path toward professional fulfillment and her active civic engagement in defending the rights of Roma women and youth.

How It Was Implemented

The case was implemented in the format of a video podcast centered on personal storytelling. The editorial team:

  • consciously built the material around the protagonist’s voice, reflections, and lived experience;
  • avoided reproducing stereotypical images of the Roma community;
  • presented the interview as a role model capable of inspiring other Roma girls and women toward education, civic engagement, and self-realization.

This approach created a safe and respectful space for a difficult yet extremely important conversation.

Impact

The video received a strong positive response from audiences:

  • numerous supportive comments;
  • wide sharing of the material;
  • requests for more stories of this kind;
  • increased visibility of educated Roma women in the public sphere;
  • contributed to breaking stereotypes about education, professional opportunities, and the social role of the Roma community.

As Zinaida Prokopenko noted:

“We received more feedback from women and young people who said this was the first time they had seen a positive and dignified portrayal of the Roma community in the media. The use of feminine professional titles, careful language, and respect for the protagonists helped create an atmosphere of safety and trust, thanks to which people themselves began sharing their own stories for future videos. The team also became more united: every participant in the project understands the value of inclusivity and responsibility for one’s words. This approach transformed ‘Roma Are Us’ from an initiative of enthusiasts into a recognizable media platform that influences public perceptions of Roma people in Ukrainian society.”