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Sexism in education and amongst teachers (view source)
Revision as of 17:24, 3 November 2022
, 17:24, 3 November 2022→So what is harmful about sexism?
= What is sexism? What is a sexist story or joke? =
= What is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism sexism]? What is a sexist story or joke? =
'''A sexist story or joke is one which is based on a belief that men and women are different, they have different characters/traits/behaviors and act divergently.'''
'''A sexist story or joke is one which is based on a belief that men and women are different, they have different characters/traits/behaviors and act divergently.'''
Wherever the story or joke is based on attributing '''different characteristics to men and women''' (husband and wife), it is sexism. Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's gender. We ascribe certain traits, roles to men and other traits and roles to women. Men are strong, brave, assertive, outgoing while women are gentle, submissive, hardworking etc.
Wherever the story or joke is based on attributing '''different characteristics to men and women''' (husband and wife), it is sexism. Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's gender. We ascribe certain traits, roles to men and other traits and roles to women. Men are strong, brave, assertive, outgoing while women are gentle, submissive, hardworking etc.
All these differences in ascribing in the stories are completely '''sociological ('''we people have created these differences by our beliefs – this difference is termed ‘gender’). They have '''absolutely NO biological or factual basis'''. The only known and accepted biological difference between men and women is that women can bear children and nurse them which men cannot do (this difference is termed as ‘sex’). Otherwise, there is nothing that men can do that women cannot and vice versa. This sociological process of discriminating between men and women on the basis of gender is '''sexism'''. References – <nowiki>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism</nowiki>, <nowiki>https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-sexism#what-sexism-is</nowiki> (gives the basic distinction between sex and gender as well).
All these differences in ascribing in the stories are completely '''sociological ('''we people have created these differences by our beliefs – this difference is termed ‘gender’). They have '''absolutely NO biological or factual basis'''. The only known and accepted biological difference between men and women is that women can bear children and nurse them which men cannot do (this difference is termed as ‘sex’). Otherwise, there is nothing that men can do that women cannot and vice versa. This sociological process of discriminating between men and women on the basis of gender is '''sexism'''. References – <nowiki>https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-sexism#what-sexism-is</nowiki> (gives the basic distinction between sex and gender as well).
= So what is harmful about sexism? =
= So what is harmful about sexism? =
'''"India ranks 120 among 131 countries in female workforce participation, according to the [https://yourstory.com/herstory/2019/02/sexism-at-work-10-subtle-ways-women-can-combat-sexism World Bank’s 2017 India Development Report.] Another report by McKinsey & Co on the advancing of women’s equality in the Asia-Pacific region, tells us clearly why just around 25 percent of India’s workforce is female, and only five percent make it to the top.'''
'''"India ranks 120 among 131 countries in female workforce participation, according to the [https://yourstory.com/herstory/2019/02/sexism-at-work-10-subtle-ways-women-can-combat-sexism World Bank’s 2017 India Development Report.] Another report by McKinsey & Co on the advancing of women’s equality in the Asia-Pacific region, tells us clearly why just around 25 percent of India’s workforce is female, and only five percent make it to the top.'''
Even beliefs that seem to be supportive of women, like believing women are honest, gentle, caring is [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-sexism#types-of-sexism sexism] which is harmful.
== Sexism is rampant ==
According to a [https://inhersight.com/blog/guides-to-discrimination/sexism 2020 report] by the United Nations Development Program, “'''91 percent of men and 86 percent of women show at least one clear bias against gender equality''' in areas such as politics, economic, education, intimate partner violence, and women’s reproductive rights.
= Why is sexism completely unacceptable for teachers? =
= Why is sexism completely unacceptable for teachers? =
Sexism is wrong for any human being.
Sexism is wrong for any human being.
But since teachers work with young minds and shape their identity, sexism is even much much more harmful if teachers practice sexism.
'''But since teachers work with young minds and shape their identity, sexism is even much more harmful if teachers practice sexism.'''
If a teacher believes men and women are different (and hence have divergent ideas/thinking/beliefs/attributes), he/she will likely believe the same for boys and girls. Boys can shift benches, play physical sports, stay late in school. Girls can make tea for visitors, sweep the floor and premises, and hand over bouquets to visitors… such biased treatment of students (all these are common examples), makes boys and girls think they are different from each other and persuades them to think of themselves, their aspirations differently. Girls are less likely to study in colleges, specially when these require travel, are married much earlier than boys, have less choice in deciding when to have children, or how many children to have.
If a teacher believes men and women are different (and hence have divergent ideas/thinking/beliefs/attributes), he/she will likely believe the same for boys and girls. Boys can shift benches, play physical sports, stay late in school. Girls can make tea for visitors, sweep the floor and premises, and hand over bouquets to visitors… such biased treatment of students (all these are common examples), makes boys and girls think they are different from each other and persuades them to think of themselves, their aspirations differently. Girls are less likely to study in colleges, specially when these require travel, are married much earlier than boys, have less choice in deciding when to have children, or how many children to have.
