Ep 18 - Feminism and Gender Roles in Storytelling!

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Lewis and Gemma take on a theme that’s often brushed aside in children’s education: gender and feminism in storytelling. Huddled in sub-zero temperatures, they explore how the stories we tell—especially fairy tales, myths, and folk tales—are shaped by the historical dominance of male perspectives and how that influences children’s perceptions of power, consent, agency, and value. With real examples like Sleeping Beauty, Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber, and The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the conversation unpacks gender tropes, the portrayal of women as objects or villains, and how storytelling is a tool for teaching empathy. They examine how boys and girls receive and embody story archetypes, the evolution of oral storytelling, and why revisiting and rewriting tales matters for modern outdoor educators. This is essential listening for anyone passionate about inclusive storytelling, critical pedagogy, and using storytime as a catalyst for reflective growth.⏱ Chapter Timings:00:00 – Outdoors in the cold: introducing feminism in storytelling01:36 – Feeling cautious: gender dynamics in discussing gender02:42 – Male dominance in traditional storytelling origins03:52 – Do we stop telling problematic stories or challenge them?05:19 – Why marriage equals a “happy ending” in old tales06:54 – Impact of marriage-centred endings on children today07:35 – Women as prizes in stories and myths08:46 – Female characters as 2D objects vs. fully formed people09:40 – Red Riding Hood reimagined: power and sensuality11:29 – How oral retellings evolve with the teller13:04 – The myth of “fixed” stories and rewriting as pedagogy14:40 – Value in offering multiple versions of the same tale15:26 – Should we adapt or abandon old stories?16:24 – Framing stories with context to invite reflection17:41 – Breaking the fourth wall and storytelling immersion18:57 – Gender of villains: brute males vs. cunning females20:14 – Women as scapegoats and historic tropes of poison21:41 – Shakespeare, gender power, and the female puppet master23:17 – Boys learning through action vs. girls through words24:28 – The rise of reading and empathy in women25:29 – Teaching empathy through stories: boys and emotional reflection26:34 – Modern picture books with less gender bias27:11 – The Tiger Who Came to Tea: a 70s gender snapshot28:51 – Retelling stories with modern satire and dark humour29:25 – A Forest School tale retold: persistence or pestering?30:03 – Preview of next week’s episode: Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg31:00 – End-of-year events, CPD days, and festive wishes🌲 Keywords: feminism in storytelling, gender stereotypes in fairy tales, inclusive education, oral storytelling, Angela Carter, Sleeping Beauty critique, teaching consent, gendered villains, empathy through story, Forest School pedagogy, retelling folk tales, storytelling and identity, modernising traditional stories, critical thinking in play, rewriting narratives for children🔖 Hashtags:#ForestSchool #InclusiveStorytelling #FeminismInEducation #GenderInFairyTales #EmpathyThroughStories #OutdoorEducation #CriticalPedagogy #ForestSchoolPodcast #StorytellingMatters #MythRewriting #TeachingConsent #NonBinaryStories #ChildDevelopment #ForestSchoolLife #RethinkingStories🌐 More Episodes & Support:Explore more episodes at www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport the podcast and get bonus content at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastFor collaborations, comments or questions: [email protected]