UKRAINIAN FOLKLORE AS A MEANS OF FORMING GENDER CULTURE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the study of theoretical and methodological aspects of the problem of forming gender culture of primary school pupils by means of Ukrainian folklore. The essence and the interrelationship of the concepts of «gender culture», «cultural stereotypes», «gender stereotypes» are analyzed. The results of research on Ukrainian folk tales by the scientists of different branches are presented and then analyzed in terms of gender approach in order to systematize and summarize their possible use in elementary school. Regardless of the scientific branch, researchers emphasize that in the content of Ukrainian folk tales masculine archetypes and images prevail. It is determined that folklore addresses mental, sensory-rational in child and forms cultural gender stereotypes as their constituents that can perform positive and negative functions. Pupils of primary school age are sensitive to perception and representation of the cultural values that is why their traditional or egalitarian formation depends on the content of folklore and the teacher's personal positions. It is pointed out that in the context of gender roles and opportunities there are many masculine examples in folklore and according to this fact, the interpretation of its content depends on gender education and gender sensitivity of the teachers. As far as it is proved that there are enough examples of egalitarian interactions of genders in Ukrainian folklore, the essence of upbringing of gender culture of junior pupils must be the equivalent to representation of male and female attitudes, rapprochement of the gender role models, but not their opposition.