“Encircle the toys for boys, and box the toys for girls,” recites a first-grade student in the Philippines from her government-issued module. She cocks her head and stares blankly at the paper: a kitchen set, a shiny bike, a miniature castle; how does she choose which toy is for boys, and which toy is for girls? She has held each of them in her hands and cherished them all the same. “Just answer it,” says her mother. “Don’t be a contrarian. If it’s colorful and pretty, it’s for girls. If it’s for rough play and adventuring, it’s for boys.” Her eyes are usually bright; she is wonder-filled and jubilant with the youthful belief that she can amount to anything. Today, her eyes are downcast. She is not the first, and she will most certainly not be the last.
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