“We Are Not Ready”: Awareness, Challenges, and Transformations in Gender Education

This study explores the transformative role of families in addressing and educating regarding gender differences and sexual orientations. Through qualitative research involving 32 families across Italy, the research examines parents’ awareness and challenges in navigating traditional and emerging gender norms within a contemporary society. Using creative digital diaries from children and interviews with parents, the study highlights the generational and cultural gaps that shape perceptions and practices around gender roles, identity, and equality. Key findings reveal that while parents recognize the importance of fostering inclusive and egalitarian attitudes, many feel unprepared to address these changes effectively. The recurring sentiment, “We are not ready”. underscores a collective need for rethinking educational approaches within families and institutions to better support younger generations in a fluid and technologically interconnected world. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for a systemic rethinking of family dynamics and educational models to address entrenched gender biases. By integrating gender education into family and institutional practices, families can be empowered to foster resilience, equality, and mutual understanding. This approach repositions families as active agents of a cultural transformation, capable of shaping more inclusive and equitable intergenerational relationships.