Pendidikan Kesetaraan Gender untuk Anak Usia Dini: Implikasi terhadap Pengembangan Kognitif dan Moral

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Gender equality education in early childhood plays a strategic role in shaping the foundation of a just, inclusive, and humanistic personality. This study aims to explore in depth the implementation of gender equality principles in early childhood education and their implications for children’s cognitive and moral development. The research employed a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design, utilizing participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis conducted in several inclusive early childhood education institutions in East Java. The findings reveal that the internalization of gender equality values through non-stereotypical learning activities—such as equitable role distribution, gender-neutral teaching materials, and reflective social interaction—significantly contributes to the enhancement of children’s critical thinking, moral empathy, and ethical awareness. Gender equality education is found to not only construct social awareness from an early age but also to strengthen cognitive and moral dimensions as the foundation of holistic personality development. These findings underscore the urgency of integrating gender perspectives into the early childhood curriculum and enhancing teachers’ pedagogical competence as an essential effort toward building a just and human-centered education system.