Challenging our thinking
School is not just a place where children learn, nor is it a place where all learning is the same. I speak often about learning opportunities, those moments where we challenge something we think, say or do and then maybe do it differently next time.
Staff have many of these learning opportunities. On a daily basis, they have the chance to try something different or change something they have done before.
The nature and diversity of our incredible parent body, ensure that without even realising it, we are exposed to and thinking about a variety of topics, we may otherwise not give much thought.
One of the areas of interest of Boni Meyersfeld, a parent here at Mina, is on the topic of gender. How do we develop and perpetuate ideas on gender in the little people we engage with daily?
I asked Boni to share some insight with staff so that we too can be more aware and challenge some of the things we think, say and do, here is what was shared:
"Stereotypes are crutches we use to ascribe certain characteristics to people based on their race, sex or religion. Some of them are benign: for example, boys like blue and girls like pink. Some are derogatory: girls aren’t logical; Jews are stingy and boys are aggressive. All stereotypes, irrespective of whether or not they are insulting, pose a danger. They allow us to make assumptions about a person, not based on their individuality but on their sex or race or religion. These assumptions lead to predetermined paths into future careers. For example, women dominate the nursing industry, while doctors continue to be mainly men (with some exceptions coming from our own parent body). Nurses earn a fraction of the income doctors generate. In other words, stereotypes have a cost. Worldwide, women earn an average of 18% less than men for the same work and with the same qualifications. Women, therefore, continue to earn less than men.
Stereotypes also quash talent. Science, maths, engineering and technology, are professions dominated by men. This is not because of some essentialist difference between the capabilities of women and men. It is because girls are seldom encouraged to enter these professions. And when they do, they face sexism, hostility and alienation. So when we say that pink is a girl’s colour and boys don’t play with dolls, let us pause for a moment and think about the consequences of those stereotypes. When we say to a girl that she looks beautiful and to a boy that he looks strong, what are we saying about the priorities for girls versus boys? Very soon, girls begin to believe that their value is attached to their looks. Boys’ value is one of masculinity and aggression. Rather, we should celebrate all the characteristics of our children that are special. Our daughters are beautiful and strong and clever, so let’s tell them that. Our sons are strong and caring and kind, so let’s tell them that.
Let us not set our children on predetermined paths and careers that are shaped by discrimination in society. By checking our own assumptions based on stereotypes, we could truly liberate our children to succeed in work – and in life."
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same”