Chapter 1: “Their Play Is Different”: Power, Language, and Gender Socialization at a Waldorf Daycare

As I walk into Shining Star Daycare,¹ I am overwhelmed by the gentle, kind, soft energy that permeates the setting. Soft light enters from the window, and all of the materials in the rooms are made from natural substances such as wood, cotton, and silk. A vase of flowers sits on the small table around which small chairs are carefully placed, and soft pink and blue pastel colors permeate the room. Children are deeply engaged in play, and teachers are walking around, busily attending to their responsibilities. But above and beyond all of these wonderful impressions, something strikes me: Except for one boy playing in the corner, the rest of the participants are female, including the two teachers and myself, the researcher.