Last Updated: June 26. 2011 1:00AM
Sweden preschool battles gender bias
Jenny Soffel/ Associated Press
http://detnews.com/article/20110626/NATION/106260307/1020/ (http://detnews.com/article/20110626/NATION/106260307/1020/)
Stockholm— At the "Egalia" preschool, staff avoid using words like "him" or "her" and address the 33 kids as "friends" rather than girls and boys.
From the color and placement of toys to the choice of books, every detail has been carefully planned to make sure the children don't fall into gender stereotypes.
"Society expects girls to be girlie, nice and pretty and boys to be manly, rough and outgoing," says Jenny Johnsson, a 31-year-old teacher. "Egalia gives them a fantastic opportunity to be whoever they want to be."