Hello, friends, and welcome to our new website, home to the End Sexism in Schools campaign. We’re still in the process of making sure this site does all the things we want and need it to, that it’s easy to use and gives you all the information you might be looking for.
Whilst we continue to add more content, we hope you’ll take a look around at our work so far. You can explore our vision, which we’ve outlined below, find out about our first exciting crowd research project and get in touch if you’d like to volunteer.
The End Sexism in Schools campaign began when our founder’s experiences with her son’s school brought home the real need for change — both in the curriculum and in school culture.
After garnering initial support from members of the Women’s Equality Party, after it was brought to the 2020 WEP Conference, the campaign began to find its feet independently, involving anyone who shares our vision for change. The decision to work independently from any specific political affiliation was made because the issue of sexism in schools is not a party political one. It impacts people from all walks of life and across the political spectrum. Anyone is welcome — in fact, invited — to get involved with our work. Wherever our broader political views might differ, our shared desire to see children and young people educated in safe and supportive environments, without gendered expectations, unites us.
We believe that schools should be an environment without sexism – where pupils are:
- taught a gender balanced curriculum
- free from gender-limiting stereotypes and expectations
- free from sexual harassment and violence
Many schools are institutions in which sexist norms and stereotypes are perpetuated and reinforced. The majority of girls experience some form of sexual harassment and violence during their school life. The lack of a gender balanced curriculum means that school leavers are frequently unaware of the historic, structural inequalities and discrimination that affect all women.
That’s why we are working towards our goal to End Sexism in Schools by 2025, to break this cycle for future generations – both women and men.
The campaign is young but ambitious, small but growing, and we hope you will join us on this journey. If you’d like to find out more about opportunities to get involved, please email endsexisminschools@gmail.com for more information.
