The fact that children endorsed personal choice in private, even when the choice was to defy gender norms, provides a seed of hope that children can be flexible about gender norms. Even the study where children accepted unequal distributions showed that children were not illogical or unaware of inequality. Instead they were misinformed. They assumed that all the children in the class would like the gifts they received – they assumed that gender norms are accurate. And this assumption predicted judgments that the distributions were fair.

When children are aware of the diversity of preferences that exist among people of all genders, they prioritize freedom of choice and fairness (6), (7), (8).

A clear message that gender is not the best way to predict someone’s preferences, abilities, or potential can help children develop more flexible thinking. This message must come from the world children observe. Children see right through empty phrases that suggest girls can be anything when they see otherwise in the world around them.

Children form their own judgments of the world. A world where a woman is president provides evidence that children can use to construct their view of what women want, what they can do, and what is fair.