"Jag kan ju inte leka med Barbie! Det är ju bara för tjejer." : En vetenskaplig essä om fritidshemslärarens bemötande av eleverna. Sett ur ett genusperspektiv.

Sammanfattning: Abstract "I can't play with Barbie! It is just for girls." is a scientific essay that is based on a story, in which I portrayed a self-perceived dilemma. In the dilemma, it emerged that I was not aware that my own perceptions of gender could influence my actions in the professional role, and that I was unsure of how I could work in practice to change the traditionally ingrained gender patterns, that manifested themselves in the after-school care center. The essay thus aimed to investigate whether the after-school teachers' own perceptions of gender could affect the way they treated the students, and to investigate how after-school teachers could work in practice to change the traditionally ingrained gender patterns that manifested themselves in the after-school care center. I have thus examined this through a writing process, in which I have had a reflective dialogue with the literature, in which I have turned to Eidevald, Butler, Ambjörnsson, Mac Donald and Persson Sjödell, among others, as their theoretical perspectives on gender and norm-critical work have helped me gain a deeper understanding of my dilemma. I have also conducted a participatory observation where I have talked to three after-school teachers about gender equality, as their perspectives, like the literature, were helpful in my reflection.   I have concluded that my perceptions of gender affect my actions in the professional role and therefore also my treatment of the students, but that we can understand this in different ways. I have also come to realize that it can be difficult to change the traditionally ingrained gender patterns, but that it is entirely possible. That we, the after-school care teachers can create a change, by learning about gender and how differences are made between the sexes, and by critically examining what we say, do and make visible in the after-school care center. Because by making ourselves aware of what we are normalizing in our work, we can also act in a way that normalizes the gender patterns that go against the accepted norms.