This Equinet report has been prepared by the Gender Equality Working Group with the aim to help equality bodies and other institutions to better understand the issues of gender-based discrimination in education. With a foreword by European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Věra Jourová, the report provides ideas and good practices on how to become active in promoting gender equality and fighting gender-based discrimination in schools.
Background
Research, statistics and complaints received by equality bodies in Europe show that gender discrimination, bullying based on gender as well as sexual harassment are happening in schools. Mechanisms to report gender discrimination and sexual harassment in schools are often missing and data on these issues is scarce.
Gender equality has not been reached and traditional gender roles and stereotypes can still be found in textbooks and teaching material. School curricula do not always reflect enough on gender equality and issues such as sexual harassment. When choosing vocational training, girls and boys still follow different paths based on the stereotypical perception of their gender roles. The need to address gender equality in schools is demonstrated by problems such as sexual harassment and discrimination based on gender in the school setting, stereotypes in school material, missing focus on gender equality in school curricula, a general lack of equality plans, as well as gender segregation in vocational training and later careers.
What can I expect to find in the Report?
Following a foreword by European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Věra Jourová, the report looks at the following aspects of gender-based discrimination in education:
- Legal framework for combating gender discrimination, gender inequality and sexual harassment in schools;
- The mandates of equality bodies concerning discrimination in schools and examples of complaints handled by them;
- Operational definitions of gender based bullying and sexual harassment in educational settings;
- Possibilities to promote gender equality in school curricula, equality plans, teacher education and training;
- Final conclusions and recommendations.
