Every child should be themselves

In 2020, the Education Council concluded that education has a role to play in reducing the differences between boys and girls in their school careers and professional lives. This was confirmed by the participants of the School & Safety Genderwise conference 2020: every child should be able to be themselves, without barriers and restrictions caused by gender stereotypes and gender norms.

What can education contribute?

In 2021, School & Safety investigated how education can promote gender equality through a qualitative exploratory study among education professionals and (social) organisations working in education. The results can be read in ‘School, Gender & Safety: An exploration of education’s contribution to gender equality’.

Professionals show great willingness, but also have many questions

The report provides numerous insights, quotes and practical suggestions from education professionals in response to the question of how schools can contribute to gender equality in society. It shows a shared determination to combat inequality.

  • Alongside this shared determination, the researchers also found mixed feelings and fundamental differences in viewpoints. People view the subject through different lenses.
  • The respondents also differed greatly in their level of awareness of the subject of ‘gender’.
  • Many professionals indicated that they wanted opportunities for mutual exchange and reflection on gender-related topics, but were still searching for how to do this.
  • Finally, it was striking that many respondents said they lacked sufficient ‘language’ in this area. Precisely because gender is so implicitly woven into our culture, in expressions through language and imagery and in role models, we are not used to talking about it and lack the necessary terminology.

All in all, there appears to be considerable willingness in education, but also a great deal of unfamiliarity. Not unwillingness, but many questions.

Gender exploration contributes to new gender policy

Based on this exploration, School & Safety outlined three scenarios in its report for working towards gender equality in education (see the infographic below). The letter to the House of Representatives of 12 May explains how the minister incorporated these scenarios into the policy described.

School & Safety: inequality and insecurity

The School & Safety Foundation will focus on combating insecurity caused by gender inequality and stereotypical gender norms. We start from practical situations and ask questions about them. Do gender norms play a role in this situation? How did the situation arise? What can you, as a teacher, do about it? What pedagogical expertise could help? What is your own position on this as a private individual? And how does your school team view this issue? Discussion of this is essential. In this way, you can work together to create even greater social safety at school for all students.