From the Dean of Learning and Teaching
Celebrating International Women’s Day
As an English teacher, it is convention to explore the representations of gendered experiences in texts. Depictions of romantic love in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, or the re-telling of popular texts from a female character’s perspective, such as Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, form bread-and-butter textual studies. As such, discussions about gender are commonplace in the English classroom beyond those that are inspired by annual events such as International Women’s Day.
In my experience, I have found that boys are quite fascinated by discussing gender equality issues. And why wouldn’t they be? Our young men have a vested interest in the matter. They are curious and care about the experiences of girls and women, and they are immersed in the formation of their own identities and how they connect with their world. Teenagers derive value in discussions about these topics – and when these are facilitated carefully, our young people can be safe to explore, question, challenge, and develop. It is my experience that boys try hard to speak respectfully while formulating ideas and opinions that can be sensitive and difficult to express. During these conversations, recognising that young people are expressing themselves while also seeking out status and respect with their peers can help us understand and use a mentor mindset[i].
I find that boys are often surprised by statistics about gender inequality as its reality is not obvious in their personal contexts. They are surprised to learn statistics suggest their sisters’ superannuation balances will likely be lower than theirs. Examples such as these trouble them, as they see their sisters and female friends as capable (perhaps sometimes even more capable than they see themselves). Localised stories help students connect the abstract with the tangible and extend their understanding. When students can connect thematic concepts – such as the 2025 International Women’s Day theme of Accelerate Action – with their reality, their compassion increases.
Boys’ schools are a critical space for occasions such as International Women’s Day, because our young men are pivotal in accelerating progress towards a gender-equal world. Boys want equality. Boys want to foster healthy masculinities. Boys want to learn how to be part of the solution.
In the spirit of Edmund Rice, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and create a more just and inclusive society. By engaging our young men in discussions about gender equality, we are nurturing stakeholders who will champion the values of respect, justice, and compassion. It is a journey that holds immense potential for positive and liberating change because our young people earnestly believe in and value equality.
Reference
[i] Yeager, D. (2024). 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation―And Making Your Own Life Easier. Simon & Schuster.
MS GRACE LOYDEN
Dean of Learning & Teaching