Do you think feminism should be taught as part of the curriculum in schools?

[IheartJKR]

If you think feminism should be taught in schools, how do you think it should be done? What age range would you start?
What do you you think the benefits would be for both girls and boys?

I think I get what you mean @DidoLamenting. I suppose I identify as libfem but there was a long time where I totally stepped back from relating to feminism at all because some radfem views had me very strongly like "wtf". (though of course, again personal opinion and not a critique of anyone)

I would be upset if my child was taught anything to either extreme, as from what I've experienced teachers and lecturers usually have a responsibility to be relatively impartial. I'd like my kids to know the facts, and then be able to affirm their own opinions respectively.

some radfem views had me very strongly like "wtf"

What views?

Incorporating more of women's history into the curriculum would be a start. Feminism is also about the absence of women's voices in our national story.

Given the prevalence of misogyny in some music, from some cultures young boys often learn from, and the example of a Prime Minister and his behaviour, yes there should at the very least be teaching on women's rights (and men's responsibilities in respect of them).

@IwishNothingButTheBestForYou2 So, I'm hesitant to discuss them on this site as I know I'm in the considerable minority. But I'll be honest and say it's predominantly to do with radfem views on transgender issues I don't agree with personally, and I would be negatively affected if my child was taught such things. But I'd also not like it if my child was taught heavily on the end of libfem morals, I just don't think it's a schools place to impart any kind of bias when it comes to education if I'm honest.

@mrscarbonara
I would be upset if my child was taught anything to either extreme, as from what I've experienced teachers and lecturers usually have a responsibility to be relatively impartial

Unfortunately, this is exactly what has been happening, which is why I’d like to redress the situation.

i just don't think it's a schools place to impart any kind of bias when it comes to education if I'm honest

See above.

I think it is very important now that our children and young adults are taught in schools competent PHSE from an expert..ie a teacher who is specialist trained. Not a geography teacher who draws the short straw or anyone else they get to do it to tick a box. Especially not political or pressure groups.
It is needed nowadays, but it has been poorly executed in some schools up to now, this should be addressed and women’s studies should be included in order to address the bias that has been taking place.

@IheartJKR Could you give any practical examples of the bias that's been taking place?

Could you give any practical examples of the bias that's been taking place?

I'm assuming now as I'm not the poster you're asking, but given the user name I'd have thought trans rights would be something they disagree with being taught.

And before my words get twisted, I'm not saying JKR herself doesn't believe in trans rights being taught, not saying that at all!
Just seeing as has been vocal about trans issues, and given that this is a thread about teaching in schools, and the username....

@Quaagars That's potentially true, though I'm interested to see what OP thinks the bias might be. There haven't been many responses in relation to her own ideals of feminism so I'm interested on where she leans, I suppose!

I don’t disagree with trans rights being taught.

I’m an advocate for all young people and their safety and happiness and standards of education is the forefront of my mind.

What about the rest of trans rights, OP? Do you think they're an intersecting part of feminism or do you think they need to be held totally separately?

I'm definitely into the conversation about bringing feminism into schools (for the sake of the conversation at least) but might be easier for all if you laid your views of what feminism is out on the table and then we (or I) could respond to it. Slightly easier to agree or disagree with something if it's not so abstract, IYSWIM.

@mrscarbonara

These are all 'External agencies that schools are firmly advised not to use include but are not limited to Stonewall, Mermaids, Gendered Intelligence, The Proud Trust, Jigsaw PSHE, Woodcraft Folk, Educate & Celebrate, No Outsiders, Allsorts Youth Project, Twinkl -

All given access to schools and all been recommended by government to no longer use. Which is why the focus of my work is the recommendations that only specialized teachers teach PHSE - for all the reasons that you mentioned but with the add on that I would like to see it expanded to include feminism / or women’s studies also.

No.

Equality - yes Feminism -no

What about the rest of trans rights, OP? Do you think they're an intersecting part of feminism or do you think they need to be held totally separately?

I’m not talking about trans rights??? Why do you keep talking about it???

@IwishNothingButTheBestForYou2

If I hated puberty that makes me a radical feminist?

What an odd thing to say. That's not remotely what I said.

@Mintjulia

No.

Equality - yes Feminism -no

@Mintjulia

Can I ask you why please?

Thanks for all your responses it’s really helpful for me to formulate a perspective

Did I hit a nerve?

I'm asking about trans rights because you've not given a definition of what implementing feminism would look like in a school. You've said you think it should be taught by specialised teachers and that teaching women's rights is important, but you've not actually mentioned what this means.

What part do you think is actively being neglected in schools right now? What would you like to see more of?
And I ask about the transgender issues because JKR's opinions are currently a big debating point and if you've chosen to use "IheartJKR" as your username particularly within a feminism thread, I don't see any harm in asking.

Feminism is the political practice of fighting for the liberation of women.
We have to fight for our rights constantly because they are on loan to us. We are not seen as fully autonomous humans.
Each generation finds a new way to try to control womens bodies, and so each generation of women has to fight their own battles; which is why there is no official head office, group or manifesto.

This generation are fighting to retain the legal definition of 'woman', and resist it being replaces with the woolly idea of 'gender' which is based on steryotypes.

Trans rights are based on sexist stereotypes (if you like to perform femininity you must literally be a woman) and so does not intersect in any meaningful way with women's sex based rights.

PSE in schools was originally supposed to reduce the epidemic level of sexual assaults and harassment suffered by girls. There was an inquiry, Maria Miller supported girls rights and then suddenly did a U turn.
So its actually quite ironic to use it as an example of womens bigotry on this thread.

mrscarbonara speaking for yourself as a trans inclusive feminist, can you give me some examples of things that you consider to be "women's rights"?

You've said you think it should be taught by specialised teachers and that teaching women's rights is important, but you've not actually mentioned what this means

Not just women’s rights...but everything that is currently being taught but extended to include women’s rights.
I’m not sure exactly what that would entail at this point until I embark on further research so I don’t currently have any more answers to give you.
The reason I’ve posted in this board is to garner opinions and experiences from others while I decide if it’s a worthwhile project to embark on.
I will be more than happy to provide you with more information when I have it. But I just don’t have it right now.

But again, I thank you for your opinion, I appreciate the time you’ve taken to post.

@ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings

mrscarbonara speaking for yourself as a trans inclusive feminist, can you give me some examples of things that you consider to be "women's rights"?

I'm really interested to know too

@HecatesCats @ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings I don't want to divert the thread, but I mostly mentioned talking about women's rights from a historical / factual perspective e.g the Suffragettes campaigned for the right to vote, the right to own property (like The Married Women's Property Act) etc. I think transgender issues are an equally important issue to discuss, and ties into the education of young women (whether trans or not). I was mostly wondering if OP's perception of teaching feminism included involving trans rights, as for me that's a part of what my feminism about though I acknowledge it isn't for many other people.

Not sure if that answered your question, but don't want to clog up the thread / get into a bunfight, truthfully.

Because if we can teach equality effectively, then the need for feminism is lessened. By teaching respect for person, regardless of race, sex, colour, creed, then the basics of a fair society are in place.

There will always be individual issues - how the trans issue is handled for example, but if we focus on equality, we will cause less alienation of boys, less taking sides, and carry majority opinion with us.

Feminism in the 60s needed to be strident - women being forced to resign when marrying, pensions, access to contraception etc - all ludicrous, but I think we will achieve more now in the UK with calm determined reason.

Fully prepared to be blasted for this though.

I think definitely something around the disparity of society as it stands and the role they should play in the respect and consideration of others. Stronger focus on the impacts to certain groups due to the lack of equality and the impact of terminology and behaviour online.

I love the idea of feminism being taught but as an earlier poster said many of the key issues are hard for school aged kids to understand- balance of power in wider society, dynamics that relate to sometimes things that are quite are to describe tangibly might get a bit lost until they are older.