In this episode, we are joined by Dr Yuwei Xu from the School of Education at the University of Nottingham. Yuwei completed his doctoral studies at the University of Glasgow.

We discuss his ongoing projects which relate to gender issues and EDI (equality, diversity, and inclusion) in early childhood education (ECE). The roles of educators and staff composition are explored along with integration of gender-sensitivity with cultural reflexivity. We touch on social norms and how policies might empower opportunities for educators to change the heteronormative discourses in ECE.

Additional resources:

The Fawcett Society. (2020). UNLIMITED POTENTIAL. Report of the Commission on Gender Stereotypes in Early Childhood. Available at: https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/unlimited-potential-the-final-report-of-the-commission-on-gender-stereotypes-in-early-childhood

OECD (2019), Good Practice for Good Jobs in Early Childhood Education and Care. OECD Publishing, Paris. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1787/64562be6-en.

Xu, Y. (2021). Challenging gender stereotypes through gender-sensitive practices in early years education and care. Early Education Journal, (93), 10-12. Available at: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10122280/

[University of Glasgow - Schools - School of Education - Research - ELP - News - ELP Seminar Series with Dr Yuwei Xu 17/11/21](https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/education/research/elp/news/headline_817806_en.html)

**Disrupting heteronormative discourses in early childhood education contexts through gender-sensitive and culturally-reflexive approaches**