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Sexism in education and amongst teachers (view source)
Revision as of 16:34, 10 January 2023
, 16:34, 10 January 2023→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? =
= What is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism sexism]? What is a sexist story or joke? =
=== Background ===
This page got created when the author was member of a teachers WhatsApp group where teachers shared sexist stories and quotes and jokes. They felt that it was acceptable behaviour and confused sexism with sex. It is absolutely important that teachers have ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXISM. Sexist teachers believe men and women are different in nature and have different roles in society. Consequently, they are likely to discriminate between boy and girl students in their own classrooms and act in gender unjust ways. They may explicitly assign different roles/activities to boys and girls (like assigning physically strenous activities to boys and 'homely/domestic' activities to girls). Such gender stereotyping will certainly affect the aspirations and self esteem of girl students and must be completely avoided by teachers
=== What is a sexist story ===
'''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.'''
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 '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism 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).
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 '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism 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? ===
Ascribing certain characteristics and traits to women makes it easier for us to push women and girls into certain roles - such as the ‘gentle/sweet/great wife’ who provides free/unpaid labor for her husband and family. For instance in many if not most households, including of teachers in the group, we will see the woman work in the kitchen to produce food while the man is watching TV or reading a newspaper in the hall. This is actually an exploitative relationship (see the brilliant movie - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QlOqqZAN5Y The Great Indian Kitchen]).
Ascribing certain characteristics and traits to women makes it easier for us to push women and girls into certain roles - such as the ‘gentle/sweet/great wife’ who provides free/unpaid labor for her husband and family. For instance in many if not most households, including of teachers in the group, we will see the woman work in the kitchen to produce food while the man is watching TV or reading a newspaper in the hall. This is actually an exploitative relationship (see the brilliant movie - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QlOqqZAN5Y The Great Indian Kitchen]).
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.
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 ==
=== 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.
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.
Such gender unjust socialization is likely to happen at many homes, but sexist teachers will also be contributing to such practices in school. Whereas schools and teachers have a duty to actively counter sexism so that girls can dream to achieve all things that boys dream.
Such gender unjust socialization is likely to happen at many homes, but sexist teachers will also be contributing to such practices in school. Whereas schools and teachers have a duty to actively counter sexism so that girls can dream to achieve all things that boys dream.
= How come some women teachers support sexist stories? =
=== How come some women teachers support sexist stories? ===
Sexism is not a simple “men oppress women” issue. It is based on the ideology (mindset) of patriarchy, which persuades people to think men are superior to women. And this ideology can affect women as well, so you can have women discriminate against other women/make them suffer when they themselves have internalized patriarchy. (hence the mother-in-law oppressing daughter-in-law phenomenon – the mother-in-law has internalized patriarchy). Women need to reflect on the influence of patriarchy in their own lives and take active steps to reduce and eradicate its influence steadily, One important way is to discuss discrimination and ways to address it, in the classroom itself.
Sexism is not a simple “men oppress women” issue. It is based on the ideology (mindset) of patriarchy, which persuades people to think men are superior to women. And this ideology can affect women as well, so you can have women discriminate against other women/make them suffer when they themselves have internalized patriarchy. (hence the mother-in-law oppressing daughter-in-law phenomenon – the mother-in-law has internalized patriarchy). Women need to reflect on the influence of patriarchy in their own lives and take active steps to reduce and eradicate its influence steadily, One important way is to discuss discrimination and ways to address it, in the classroom itself.
===== Analysis =====
===== Analysis =====
==== Mother is best / knows best / cares best. ====
After his father's death, the Son decided to leave his mother at old age home and visited her on and off. Once he received a call from old age home....Mom very serious ..... please come to visit. Son went and saw mom very critical, on her dying bed. He asked: Mom what can I do for you.
Mom replied... "Please install fans in the old age home, there are none.... Also put a fridge for betterment of food because many times I slept without food".
Son was surprised and asked: mom, while you were here you never complained, now you have few hours left and you are telling me all this, why? Mom replied....."it's OK dear, I've managed with the heat, hunger & pain, but when your children will send you here, I am afraid you will not be able to manage
"Truth" - Truth no 1 : '''Nobody is real in this world except Mother.. No one can replace mother in this world'''
===== Analysis =====
# '''Mother stereotyping''' is common in India, and we need to conisder its huge costs on women's aspirations and choices.
# No doubt mothers love their children. But fathers also do. And we can see children who do not have mothers being taken care off well by fathers. So it seems that there may really not be much biological justification to think mothers have to love their children more than their fathers.
# Secondly, if we do believe in gender equality, then all responsibilities of the home must be divided equally - this includes both cooking/care work as well as child care.
# What the 'mother is best/ only mother can care most' kind of thinking does is, it puts TREMENDOUS PRESSURE on women post childbirth. They have to do most of the child care and their husbands can focus on their career/ work etc. Post pregnancy/childbirth/ initial child care period, many women find it very difficult to resume their work lives. (This is much more a problem for private sector employees, government employees maybe can join back where they left, after 6 month maternity leave).
# This kind of Mother is best thinking also makes it more difficult for girls to get jobs... in the interview, the interviewer may think - if I hire this young woman, she will marry, have children and not be able to give as much time and attention to the job. So let me hire this young man instead.
# On the same lines, motherhood is supposed by patriarchal folks to be the most important aspiration for women. So women who do not have children or do not want to have children are looked down upon... In North India 'Baanj' बांझ (baren woman) is used as an insult, do not know about the South.
# Is this just and fair? As teachers, we have a moral role to play. What would we desire for a just society? Basicaly our biases can be quite harmful and we need to be aware of them
==== Men are promiscuous and women are loyal ====
==== Men are promiscuous and women are loyal ====
===== Analysis =====
===== Analysis =====
=== Sexist beliefs ===
==== Men and women have to be complementary each other ====
Men and women are equal halves of a sphere...when the two halves revolves equally the round is completed. Men and women both are an acme of the future race... Both have to be complementary each other. We should have mutual understanding. Indeed he is the wind to push the family into heights.
===== Analysis =====
The belief in 'complementary nature of men and women' is an essential ingredient of sexism - that is what supports a culture where women labour in the kitchen and are shut off from many opportunities that men get easier access to.
One image we may have seen in teacher workshops and meetings, when we reach the closing time of say 4 or 5 pm, many of the women teachers are tense, looking at their watches, clutching their handbags, taking furtive glances at the exit ...... while the men are relaxed, eager to continue discussions and willing to wait longer ..... the reason is simple - almost all women have their second duty waiting for them at home, getting the dinner ready for the family and associated home tasks. (There may be cases where men are sharing the homework equally, but we know these to be exceptions to the rule)
As teachers, we need to ask ourselves - is this the society we want to build? or do we aspire for a society where any 'complementing' is not defined by gendered roles, but by any of us being able and willing to take on any role as the situation requires, which is just and fair.
Also, will such beliefs influence our teaching practice and if that is being fair to the girls in our classrooms ...
=== Readings, resources ===
[https://yourstory.com/herstory/2019/02/sexism-at-work-10-subtle-ways-women-can-combat-sexism Sexism at work: 10 subtle ways women are treated differently and how to deal with it]
[[Category:Gender]]
[[Category:Gender]]
