Nursery World - Inclusion - Damage limitation

Helen Garnett explores the role of early years education in preventing violence against women and girls

Gender stereotyping begins in the early years and affects behaviour and attitudes into adulthood

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today.’1

It is a sobering fact that violence against women has intensified since the outbreak of Covid-19 and has even been named the ‘Shadow Pandemic’.

Globally, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence, and numbers are reportedly rising. Over one weekend during lockdown, calls to domestic abuse helplines in the UK went up by 65 per cent.2

Violence develops as a result of many complex factors or ‘forces’ – genes, development history, temperament, relationships, family history and community – all of which shape social and gender norms. There is also a correlation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and violence.

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