Gender discrimination is still common today. Whether it occurs in a blatant or subtle way, gender discrimination has a negative impact on individuals and the community. As it is the case with the rest of society’s ills, prevention must be done in order to break the cycle. Home training plays a crucial role here. Most of our behavioral patterns can be traced to what we learn at home. Here are 5 ways of preventing gender discrimination:

1. Start with your kids

Children learn very fast. Let your sons take care of some of the house chores. Do not reserve chores exclusively for your daughters. Having your sons perform house duties will not only make them more responsible but will make them aware that housework applies to everyone.

2. Do not make excuses

Sons and daughters should be held accountable for their actions in the same way. Is it okay for your son to damage every piece of furniture in the house simply because he is a boy? Is it okay for your daughter to clog the bathroom sink with hair (and not clean up) daily just because she is a girl?

3. Have the same academic expectations

Too many parents allow their sons to underperform academically while expecting nothing but ‘A+’ grades from their daughters. How does one justify that?

4. Do not tolerate violence either way

“Do not hit her because she is a girl”. Many parents mean well by saying that to their toddler sons but it can create another problem. By using the “…because she is a girl” reason, parents can cause their sons to only see a girl’s gender instead of seeing her as a person first. In addition to that, those same parents should not tolerate their daughters hitting their sons. This would not be fair and could cause their sons to resent women as they grow up.

5. Practice what you preach

Establishing rules for the household is necessary but it is completely useless unless both parents follow the rules. No matter how convincing a parent sounds, children will only believe in a rule if they see their parents practicing it. Saying that the rule doesn’t apply to Daddy because he is a man or that it doesn’t apply to Mummy because she is a woman will not work.

Seeing people as human beings first is of paramount importance if one wants to get rid of all forms of gender discrimination. These 5 suggestions focused on children and prevention. What other solutions do you suggest? In what ways can we reach adults who treat people unfairly because of their gender?