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Volume 1 (1999/2000)
Issue
1 (March 1999)
Issue
2 (Nov. 1999)
Issue 3 (Dec. 1999)
Issue 4 (Feb. 2000)
Issue 5 (March 2000)
Issue 6 (April 2000)
Issue
7 (May 2000)
Volume 2 (2000/2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2000)
Issue 2 (Oct. 2000)
Issue 3 (Jan. 2001)
Issue 4 (March 2001)
Issue 5 (April 2001)
Issue 6 (May 2001)
Volume 3 (2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2001)
Issue 2 (Nov. 2001)
Categories
Sport: 1
2 3
Lifestyles: 1 2
3
Commentary: 1 2
3
Review: 1 2
3
Writing: 1 2
3
Event: 1 2
3
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Justine Clare
King's Hospital
The Department of Education has introduced a new programme on gender
to some single-sex boy's schools. It is the first to be used in an all-boys'
school, whereas programmes on gender and equality have been used in girls
schools since the eighties. The programme aims to examine the changing
role of men and women in society.
For boys, sexual identity is a problem in single-sex schools. Many have
difficulty developing their own sexuality and find it hard to cope with.
This is why people tend to believe that homosexuality is a result of the
single sex school. The stereotypical male image is macho with notions
like "boys don't cry'' and there is a lot of pressure to live up
to these notions. Boys are teased or bullied for not conforming to stereotypical
masculinity. Single-sex boy's schools are the least aware of issues of
gender equality and the boys in these schools are more likely to express
sexist attitudes.
People will argue that education is about academic achievements and not
social ethics. They believe it is the parent's job to educate the child
about morals and social graces. That the single-sex school is an ideal
educational institution for it holds the best way of learning without
"distraction".
They are right, up to a point, because the parents are influencing the
child since the day that it is born. However, the day it goes to school
there are so many more things influencing the child that it is the child's
job to make choices. This may be an unconscious decision and the child
can't necessarily help what choices he/she is making. However, it is all
part and parcel to growing up, a difficult task made harder by restricting
these influences to one gender.
Some might say this is a good thing, that they are sheltering their child
from unnecessary affliction, but I disagree. I believe that anything you
shelter a child from will inevitably resurface later on in life. If a
child can handle something while they are growing up, it makes adulthood
that bit easier for them. A child must be exposed to these things because
part of becoming an adult is the realisation that by making mistakes we
learn by them. And maybe by doing this, we can also limit the amount of
peer pressure received as a child. In my opinion it is morally wrong to
shelter a child from something as important as gender equality because
I think it restricts the child's overall outlook on life.
The evidence suggesting that men are in trouble in society is: the rise
in young suicides, drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment, the turning to
sport as an outlet for violence and the loss of confidence in the future.
It was for these reasons that this programme was made. Boys are also more
likely than girls to be violent, to be in prison and to be in psychiatric
care. Over 80% of all suicides in Ireland in '97 were men. Of these 25%
were in the l5-24 age group. Most of those who die under the age of 16
are males.
The changing family means a greater and more demanding role for women
and an even more marginalised role for men. While back in the 70s men
occupied 60% of third level places, in '95 women began to out number them
and now the stakes are fairly even. Gender equality is not a subject one
learns in school and then forgets, but is a must for modern society.
How boys and girls differ in the single sex school
Boys in single sex schools are less tolerant of minority groups. They
expressed the strongest bias against those who are homosexual or belong
to minority ethnic groups.
Higher stress levels in girl's schools than boy's schools.
Higher levels of awareness of the body, appearance, demeanour of students
in girls schools.
Boys focus particularly on masculine identity - physical size, appearance,
strength, lack of sporting ability, perceived academic ability.
Boys regard themselves as very clever, good-looking, competitive, and
good at sport.
Girls have more control of appearance and behaviour.
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