Semillas de Igualdad: Mexico

Between 2022 and 2023, Equimundo and GENDES conducted the study How Boys Learn to Be Men in Mexico City, Monterrey, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and Tijuana. The findings showed that rigid gender norms are taught, modeled and reinforced among boys affecting their emotional expression, relationships, and interactions at school from an early age:

• 21% of boys and adolescent males do not know what to do when they feel hurt, sad, or afraid.
• 32% have little or no confidence that their friends would support them if they had a problem.
• 77% primarily associated the “ideal man” with being strong, compared with 50% who associated him with being caring.
• 30% of boys reported having bullied, insulted, or bothered someone at school, compared with 17% of girls.

How Did We Respond?

Based on this evidence, Equimundo and GENDES co-created Seeds of Equality (Semillas de Igualdad), a program aligned with Mexico’s New Mexican School framework (Nueva Escuela Mexicana). The program is organized around three areas: gender equality; emotional well-being and cultures of peace and is part of the Global Boyhood Initiative (GBI) which seeks to promote healthier, more caring, and equitable expressions of masculinity from early childhood. 

During the 2024–2025 school year, the program was piloted in four public preschools in Monterrey, Nuevo León, reaching 301 children, 50 teachers, school leaders, and support staff, as well as 400 families through three main components:

1. Teacher training 
2. Evidence-based educational and classroom tools
3. Practical and engaging resources for families

The Results

• Teacher training can lead to concrete changes: Teachers identified gender biases and began adjusting their interactions with children, the way classroom activities were assigned, and how gender stereotypes were addressed.
• Among children, everyday behavioral changes emerge first: Early signs included greater collaboration among children, increased emotional expression, particularly among boys, and less rigid gender roles during play and classroom activities.
• Families are essential to sustaining change: The materials were well received and allowed for children to share with their families the activities that they conducted in class and together question harmful norms.  
• Area of improvement: Strengthening shared caregiving responsibilities and coordination among schools, families, and communities will be critical to consolidating and sustaining progress.

Resources

For Educators

Manual for Teachers: Provides a pedagogical framework aligned with the New Mexican School model to promote gender equality, emotional well-being, and a culture of peace in preschool settings.

Evaluation Results Brief: Presents the main findings from the implementation and evaluation of the Seeds of Equality pilot.

Teacher booklet: Brings together classroom activities, reflections, teacher testimonials, and guidance for engaging families in conversations about these topics.

Classroom Projects: Includes practical experiences and activities that help educators integrate the program’s three core areas into their teaching.

For Families

View the Storybook and Conversation Starters in the resources above.