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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Sexism in schools - NEU report - 'It's just everywhere'

21 replies

ArabellaScott · 27/03/2021 12:15

The stats in this are sobering, but it looks like it might be a useful starting point to tackle this enormous issue.

'The results of UK Feminista and NEU’s groundbreaking study are clear: schools, education bodies and Government must take urgent action to tackle sexism in schools. "It's just everywhere" is a study on sexism in schools and how we tackle it. '

neu.org.uk/advice/its-just-everywhere-sexism-schools?fbclid=IwAR0lEzAgW29_9kPbzwJhlL35ZYlUncDzuCeVafyNE9K8tBxOFHl5t19KOZk

OP posts:
highame · 27/03/2021 18:22

They didn't need a report, we knew it already. Whilst the whole world has decided trans issues (hate to bring this up but it is relevant) trumps everything, the bad width is taken. Young women and girls are subject to sexism that seems even worse than when I grew up. At least then, we didn't have the internet and boys had some sense of what was wrong. When I filled in the VAWG I brought up lots of things that are in this report. Why did it take so long? It's not rocket science. They've know this for years. Unions are probably more sexist than most institutions, so that might answer some of my questions and.......are they cashing in on the furor.

Thanks for posting op

highame · 27/03/2021 18:23

Sorry posted too soon should be the BAND width plus question mark to finish Blush

ArabellaScott · 27/03/2021 18:30

Yes, I know, highame, but I am hopeful that taking steps to combat this is seeing things start to move in the right direction.

If we tackle sexist stereotypes, then all the 'boys toys' and 'girls clothes' bullshit goes out the window. That can only be good for everyone.

OP posts:
PenOrPencil · 27/03/2021 19:31

Sexism is rife in schools, and boys’ attitudes towards girls and women are absolutely shocking.
I usually seat my student boy-girl but will have to change that for one of my Year 8 classes as the girls are visibly uncomfortable.
I am worried for all of our girls.

ValancyRedfern · 27/03/2021 19:37

This report came out a few years ago. I went to the launch at Houses of Parliament. Maybe now it will get more traction.

Justhadathought · 27/03/2021 19:37

Single sex schools have a lot to commend them. i know this tends to be confined pretty much to church schools now ( certainly in the state sector); but 11 -18 ( puberty) is a good time for girls to be able to focus on their education, and not have to deal with this sort of shit. Sport tends to be stronger in girls schools too.

ValancyRedfern · 27/03/2021 19:38

I teach in a girls' school, and the more I see and hear about mixed schools, the more grateful I am that girls schools exist. Large parts of the country don't have them as an option though.

Justhadathought · 27/03/2021 19:41

I teach in a girls' school, and the more I see and hear about mixed schools, the more grateful I am that girls schools exist. Large parts of the country don't have them as an option though

Yes, I was a teacher too....and I like boys.......but do think girls are generally better off in single sex schools during the secondary years. I went to all girl schools myself, and appreciated ( in retrospect) not having to contend with any of that, and just focus on learning, sport and friendships.

ArabellaScott · 27/03/2021 19:44

@ValancyRedfern

This report came out a few years ago. I went to the launch at Houses of Parliament. Maybe now it will get more traction.
Oh, apologies. I just saw it linked and thought it was new.
OP posts:
thirdfiddle · 27/03/2021 19:47

Yes, I'm seriously considering single sex school for DD at secondary. She doesn't need that shit.

DaenarysStormborn · 27/03/2021 19:55

Horrifying but unsurprising. Maybe this will finally get some traction.

On a similar note - It doesn't mention primary schools in this report much but sexist attitudes and roles aren't challenged early and become harder to break later.

Every year, I watch girls organise, care for and chivvy their male peers while staff tell them to care for others etc. The expectation always falls on the girls to care for the hapless and useless boys. The reinforcement of the roles of women in caring roles and arts subjects starts early.

It doesn't help that the staff usually model these roles: men in leadership roles or they are based in scientific areas of the school while most art subject teachers are female.

We also always have to be aware of covering stories with male central characters to 'interest the boys' so girls get exposed constantly to stories of daring, heroic boys. The emphasis is seemingly never on showing a range of daring, heroic girls.

I know these sound small - most of the outright gender stereotypes are challenged but the underlying attitudes of the roles of girls are allowed to fly under the radar until they become entrenched.

flyingfoxkins · 27/03/2021 19:56

This is interesting in how teenage boys are groomed to despise women: www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/02/men-who-hate-women-by-laura-bates-review-fierce-and-eye-opening

MarieDelaere · 27/03/2021 23:25

Guess who was Minister for Women & Equalities when this report was ignored published?

Penny Mordaunt.

FrankButchersDickieBow · 28/03/2021 04:08

Yes. It's rife. Girls were told on own clothes day, not to wear leggings because it will distract the boys.

Nothing official, but teachers mentioning it to the students.

Girls, moderate what you wear so you don't encourage mens inappropriate behaviour.

There was lots of discussions about it on the mum chat. It seemed like the women who had boys got extremely defensive and the women who had girls, were fuming over the leggings thing.

TheFnozwhowasmirage · 28/03/2021 09:14

My girls both go/ went to a mixed state comprehensive. They have never told me about any abusive or sexual comments or behaviour and neither have any of the other parents that I know.
BUT, thinking about it,Dd2 did come home unhappy that one of the disruptive boys in her class had been moved to sit next to her because she was a calming influence and wouldn't be distracted or drawn into messing about. I wasn't happy either,but didn't feel that I could complain at the time,but told her that if it affected her concentration or ability to get on with her work, I'd be right on it. Knowing what I know now,I'd be angrier about it. It isn't girls jobs to be a good influence,and implies that some boys can't regulate themselves and have to have a support female to assist them.

nevertrustaherdofcows · 28/03/2021 11:41

And simultaneously we have an erosion of single-sex spaces , also in schools. Girls are more under siege every day.

And of course ROGD is spiralling hugely amongst girls ... surely the other side of the same coin?

Soontobe60 · 28/03/2021 11:56

I do think that as mothers we need to look at how we might be unconsciously adding to the sexist behaviours in our children - and I include me as a mother in that.
It’s really hard to raise a child totally without stereotypes, from the clothes they wear to the toys they play with. I didn’t really think much about it when my daughters were little, although I made sure they had things like toy cars, climbed trees, got messy, wore Spider-Man outfits with ballet skirts when playing dressing up! Now with my grandchildren I’m far more active in thinking about my choices of clothes, gifts, activities. Plus the way I speak to them and my expectations of them. But I still see my friends’ children having princess parties for their daughters or superhero parties for their sons, little girls in my school with long hair that annoys them and gets in the way whereas little boys have easy to manage short hair, girls in summer dresses whilst boys wear shorts. It’s as if girls are being brought up to be pretty whereas boys are brought up to be practical.
Sexism is alive and kicking in primary schools - make no mistake!

FemaleAndLearning · 28/03/2021 12:07

I've been talking to my school about RSE and sent them the Safe Schools Alliance factsheet on sexism in secondary schools so I will send them this too. Thank you.

motherrunner · 28/03/2021 14:26

I teach in a girls’ school, 3 years now after 17 years in mixed schools. I can honestly say the girls have a much better experience. I’m an English teacher. I know longer have to choose texts to engage the boys, they are so much more confident in having their voices heard, take part in a range of sports etc. I want my own DD to go there.

CousinKrispy · 28/03/2021 14:36

Sadly there is no all-girls school local to me. DD will be at secondary school in just a few years.

What are the practical steps that could bring about change in this area?

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 28/03/2021 16:43

I agree with start at primaries. Secondaries will be in the firing line for at least a while due to the everyone's invited website but primaries are unlikely to be questioned - and this starts early.

My son is a toddler and happens to have only female friends - my mum's group all have girls and he gets on best with 2 girls at nursery. Lots of comments about his girlfriend's and harem. They are two years old! They like jumping and laughing. It's from the parents of girls.

So for primary I think look at the books they read, get strong and funny girls in there early, see if you can support the school by getting in authors who can bring girls fronted stories alive.

I bought second hand batch of books off a local mum and realised when I got home that she must have a daughter as the majority of books are girl led. My son loves the little princess and Maisie now - but people might not have thought to buy this for him.

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