Increasing options
Give children a choice of their own
There were many donated school bags and
Japanese calligraphy kit bags for children who
lost school supplies in the disaster. Did
children receive them without any hesitation?
School bags are now available not only in
traditional red and black but also in unique
colors, such as green and yellow. Children are
freer from stereotypical gender colors than
before. However, many of the donated school
bags were reported to be red or black.
When tasked to purchase Japanese
calligraphy kit bags for children, one
organization made a list of colors including
brown besides red and black, so that children
could choose the colors by themselves as
they did before. This is an example of an
arrangement that came about, where children
did not have stereotypical gender colors
imposed on them.
In order to restore dignity
Stationery goods and school supplies are
usually colored in a combination of pink and
blue, or red and black, which are linked to
gender. However, increasing options of color
guarantees that children can be themselves,
by enjoying making a choice of their own. It is
necessary, not only for children, but also for
adult survivors, to make arrangements to
increase choices available when sending relief
supplies.