During a French class, I had an interesting discussion with some classmates about school culture, and how it is crucially dependant on the demographics of the school, mainly if it is single-sex or co-ed. While school culture includes a multitude of core beliefs and behaviors, we found ourselves most aware of those that are inherently harmful to others. Many people in my class have brothers that attend the all-boys school nearby, and they commented on how they are often disgusted and appalled by the general behavior of the school’s students, which they attributed to the deeply ingrained misogynistic and sexist culture of the school. As we discussed further, it became clear that this issue was not exclusive to this particular school, but rather to most other all-boys schools that we had interacted with. This is extremely worrying. School is the first place we learn to socialize and interact with others, and the behaviors and habits that become part of our personalities are established in these formative years. A school whose culture is a proponent of not only sexism, but other pervasive forms of prejudice like racism and homophobia, unfortunately breeds similarly prejudiced students.
While we can say that these all-boys schools should do better to deconstruct gender stereotypes and instill positive attitudes towards gender equality, the issue ultimately is much more complex. The course of action to change something as well-established as a school’s culture is immediately unclear and an enormous effort, especially as these misogynistic attitudes have likely also seeped into the school’s staff and management. When thinking about this further, my friend shared that she had noticed that her brother, who had recently moved from an all-boys school to a co-ed school, had become much kinder and more considerate after moving. She credited his change in behavior to a significant difference in his new school’s culture due to being a mix of both boys and girls. This was very interesting to me as it proves that inevitably, understanding and empathy are antidotes to unfounded hate. Being forced to interact with girls in a school environment allows boys to view us as real people worthy of respect. While this is truly the bare minimum, this core attitude can have flow-on effects to their behavior at school, in their relationships and later on, in the workplace.
So how do we cultivate this kind of environment in all schools, regardless of demographic? To fix a school’s culture, we need to stop turning a blind eye to its existence. School culture is often something that is unspoken of, but mutually understood, making it easy for its flaws to be ignored. Acknowledging not only how important school culture is, but how it perpetuates harmful behaviours and attitudes towards women and girls, particularly in all-boys schools, will force the problem to become a reality, and one that requires desperate fixing. Single-sex schools especially, need to make more of an effort to surround their students with a diverse range of students, of differing genders and identities. The unknown breeds ignorance, which in turn, breeds stereotypes and misconceptions. Encouraging students to interact with other schools through inter-school activities and collaborations, can fundamentally change its culture from one filled with misogyny and hatred to one that fosters awareness and respect.
Finally, the importance of women in leadership cannot be underestimated. While true change in a school can only be achieved through its students, those in leadership are essential in initiating these changes. Choosing women to be the decision-makers gives them the chance to voice their perspectives and advocate for prominent institutional changes that can promote gender equality. It is hoped through these kinds of changes, that we can truly recognize the importance of a school’s culture in shaping respectful, tolerant, and compassionate young people.