Nursery rhymes play an important role in the formal and informal
development of toddlers. The rhyme is used to impact values that make the young
grow into responsible citizens. It punctuates various social activities where
socially accepted themes are communicated (Muranda & Maruzani, 2022). In
children, it fosters intimacy and close relationships, therefore creating a
sense of belonging. Through music, toddlers expand their communicative
abilities and their imagination. Music enables toddlers to express themselves
freely and develop a degree of confidence and creativity, as well as academic
skills and socially accepted behaviours. In pursuance of international calls to
eradicate gender inequality in communities, the study aims to make a gender
analysis of selected ECD rhymes. Three popular Early Childhood Development
(ECD) rhymes (Old Mac Donald Had a Farm, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Five Little
Ducks) were subjected to a three-pronged analytical lens adopted from critical
discourse analysis. The rhyme lyrics were analysed in the following ways: (i)
analysis of the rhymes as discourse, (ii) rhymes as performed language, and
(ii) description of discourses about the rhyme. Conclusions from the study show
that there is a critical role that music plays at ECD level. However, nurturers
seem oblivious to the role that rhymes play in perpetuating traditional gender
stereotypes that fuel gender inequality in our communities. The description of
rhyme discourse further adds to the dynamic meanings that can be exposed by
CDA. The discourse in these rhymes takes place in the natural, everyday settings.
The actors and the themes that are used in the lyrics all make reference to the
realities that the young interact with on a daily basis. This helps the
toddlers to link the world of fantasy to the realities in their everyday lives.
The analysis of these rhymes may help in making stakeholders aware of the need
to come up with gender-neutral rhymes that promote equal opportunities for
girls and boys in all spheres of life, even as they grow up. The use of
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) helped the study unpack these explicit and
implicit gender ideologies that prevail in ECD rhymes. The issue of these
gender connotations at the ECD level needs urgent attention, for failure to do
so is a recipe that will contribute to rhetoric in the pursuit of gender equality
in our communities.
Author(s) Details
Nyevero
Maruzani
Gender Institute, Midlands State University, P.O. Box 9055, Gweru,
Zimbabwe.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/lleru/v7/5967
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