Classic fairytales like Snow White, Cinderella and Rapunzel will be analysed for gender bias under new education plans aimed at preventing family violence.

According to the Herald Sun, young school children will be asked to become "fairytale detectives" to question the stereotypes the age-old stories raise rather than taking them at face value.

Pre-schoolers will be asked to "describe and compare the roles commonly given to male and female characters" and to "identify gendered messages fairytales give readers".

Teachers will then encourage the little ones to swap the genders in traditional fantasy roles like princesses, fairy godmothers and princes, and compared the tales with more modern gender-neutral stories.

"Men are supposed to be strong and brave and women are supposed to be beautiful and need rescuing by men", the program says.

"If a man or woman does not fit this description, they are usually made out to be the ‘baddies’ or the villain — like a witch or an evil prince."

Pre-school toys like Barbie and Action Man, books and games will also be reconsidered under Victoria's Respectful Relationship program which aims to challenge "the sense of entitlement in boys and lower self-esteem in girls".