Abstract:
This study discusses ways in which gender stereotypes are implied in the Basotho
traditional khati song ‘kooko!’ and the selected games: khotsoane, mantloane and
mokallo. The study identified some gender stereotypes in the Basotho traditional khati
song ‘kooko!’ and the selected games. These identified gender stereotypes seem to be
the embodiment of values expected later in children as adults. The values are instilled
in children through their participation and performance of the song and the games
selected for this study. Basotho traditional games and songs discussed in this study
reveal some gender stereotypes where a society expects males and females to perform
certain roles and responsibilities from a tender age. The study further demonstrates
that certain cultural practices and rites of passage performed on either a boy and a
girl-child at birth inform some gender stereotypes. Parents and grandparents are also
found to be the contributing factors to these gender stereotypes as they dictate the
children’s roles and responsibilities from the early stages of development.
The findings also show that most of these gender stereotypes have positive impact
towards attitudes and behaviour expected by the society in the children. It is therefore
concluded that there are societal expectations on gender roles and responsibilities in
children from a tender age. The introduction of games and songs to the children
dictates different roles for boys and girls on how they have to conduct themselves intheir society in future
