Gender and Power in Early Childhood Education in Indonesia

Early childhood education (ECE) plays a crucial role in shaping children's identities, including their understanding of gender. However, in the Indonesian context, gender issues are still often overlooked in education policies and practices, even though social norms developed in schools indirectly reinforce traditional gender stereotypes. This book explores how gender and power are constructed in early childhood education in Indonesia through an ethnographic approach as well as post-structuralist and post-colonial feminist theories. By observing the interactions of children, teachers and education policies, the book shows that education is not a neutral space, but a place where gender norms are continuously reproduced and negotiated. In addition to exposing gender bias in the ECD system, this book also offers an alternative, more inclusive pedagogy. Teachers have a huge role in shaping children's gender understanding, but often unconsciously maintain traditional norms. Therefore, education should be a flexible space where children can express their identities without rigid gender boundaries.