Darmstadt: Promote fair and equal role models

• fromJens Joachim

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The Darmstadt City Library puts together media boxes for lending. Interested parties can have a selection of books and films put together from a media list.

On the occasion of World Girls’ Day initiated by the United Nations, on which the disadvantages of girls worldwide were pointed out yesterday, the Darmstadt Women’s Office and the city library have put together special media boxes again. Interested parties can have a selection of books and films compiled and borrowed from an extensive media list, which “show a fair and equal role model for girls and boys”, as stated in a communication from the city.

There is a choice of media for the age groups between three and six years and between six and ten years. Different types of families are also discussed.

According to the city, the media boxes are also suitable for use in day-care centers and schools. Parents and educational professionals can also borrow the media. For adults there is also specialist literature on gender-equitable upbringing.

The compilation and loan of the media takes place via the city library. The media boxes and their use are presented in a new flyer. This is available in the Citizens Information Center on Luisenplatz and can be ordered free of charge by email at [email protected]. In addition, the flyer can be called up under the keyword “Publications” on the website www.frauenbuero.darmstadt.de and under “Offers and Service” at the address stadtbibliothek.darmstadt.de.

Too many clichés

The Darmstadt head of social affairs and women’s affairs, Barbara Akdeniz (Greens), says that girls and women in Germany are still victims of sexual violence. Women are also underrepresented in political interest groups and often have to be content with less income and, accordingly, assets.

One reason for this lies in the fact that girls and boys are confronted with classic gender stereotypes at an early age. In children’s literature, girls are often portrayed with fairies and princesses, while boys play soccer or go on adventures on pirate ships. “The classic distribution of roles, that women look after the children and the fathers go to work, occurs again and again,” criticizes Akdeniz.

The city councilor is of the opinion that these clichés restrict the children too much in their development. This leads to the fact that girls often have less self-confidence in their mathematical and scientific skills, more frequently choose less well-paid professions, later take on more unpaid care work and are therefore exposed to a higher risk of old-age poverty. “We have to take decisive countermeasures here,” warned Akdeniz.

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