As we now know from numerous studies on the subject, gender stereotypes start very early.
For example, it has been discovered that children associate power and masculinity from the age of four, that girls believe they are less brilliant than boys from six years old, that the idea that certain behaviors are gender-related is already firmly established from the age of 10. .
Prejudices that come to life even in the playground, where girls feel they have less of a place than boys and are relegated to corners.
In an attempt to fight against these stereotypes, which inevitably lead to inequalities, Jean Castex announced this Thursday, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, that a
"
week of equality between girls and boys ”would take place at school. During these few days, teachers and students will mobilize "around strong projects", he explained, assuring that the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, would give details on "the modalities and the contents ". This action will take place "from March 2022", details the entourage of the Prime Minister, who is however not yet able to specify which levels will be concerned.
For the time being, if the question of equality between girls and boys "constitutes a fundamental axis of the common base of knowledge, skills and culture" and must therefore be "implemented at all levels of schooling in a approach which involves all the disciplines taught and activities experienced ”, the programs do not in fact impose anything specific, except for a mention in moral and civic education, which should make it possible to acquire“ the values (...) of Republic ”, including“ equality between girls and boys ”.
Difference between theory and reality
But "there is a difference between what must be done in principle and reality", immediately asks Amélie Djondo, a teacher at the college in Mamers (Sarthe) and coordinator of gender equality in the northern Sarthe area.
"We are really more on an incentive" than on an obligation, she continues.
Work on equality is therefore “based on convinced people, on a voluntary basis.
You have to fight to have hours, ”tells us the one who uses her lunch breaks or Wednesday afternoons to devote herself to the issue.
The treatment of this subject is based "essentially on individual initiatives", confirms a teacher and school principal in Paris.
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Regarding educational resources on the subject, "there are a few files in textbooks," she describes, but there are also everyday tools, "for those who want to use them."
For elementary school students, we can “take a dictionary and look at what is taken as an example to illustrate words like
courage
,
fort
, or to illustrate trades.
We can use iconography to show that certain things, such as wearing a dress, are cultural, depend on the country but also on the period, ”she still lists.
For older students, "we can offer projects based on theater, radio, video, cinema, exhibitions", details, for her part, Amélie Djondo, who notes that "it pleases a lot".
A training problem
While there are no hours formally dedicated to the issue in teaching, there are not many more in the training of educational personnel.
"From the start of the 2021 school year, the establishment of initial and continuing training modules on gender equality is made compulsory," says the Ministry of National Education on its website.
This is not quite what Mathilde Blanchard, coordinator of the priority education network for the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, describes to us.
“With the refocus on fundamentals, this issue is really very marginal,” she describes.
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Clearly, "it is the training that is wrong", because "we do not question our practices, which can be unequal", summarizes Mathilde Blanchard, for whom "awareness, on the side of teachers, is the first step ".
An opinion shared by the school principal in Paris.
"What is needed is extensive training on the issue" of prejudices, she says.
Because “teachers, even unconsciously, convey gender stereotypes.
So before creating modules for the students, having them make posters etc., teachers must be made aware, which therefore requires putting resources into training, ”she concludes.
This does not seem to be the route considered at the present time.
