Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 04:26 am
White Ribbon UK, a charity dedicated to preventing gender-based violence, has launched a new open-access learning resource to help adults working with children and young people introduce the concepts of gender and inequality in a meaningful way.
Building Gender Equality, which was developed over a two-year period by expert practitioners, complements existing Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum in the UK and focuses on the prevention of restrictive and harmful gender traits that lead to gender inequality.
Dr Stephen Burrell, Researcher at Durham University, who is a leading researcher on masculinity in the UK and who played a key role in the development of this resource, said: “This is an important and valuable learning resource which I hope lots of schools will take up. If we’re going to prevent violence against women and girls from happening in the first place, then we’re going to need to get to the roots of the problem in the way that this resource does – looking at ongoing gender inequalities in our society and rigid, restrictive gender norms which stop us being our full selves, such as the idea that boys and men should always be tough, unemotional, powerful and in control.”
White Ribbon UK believes that education settings are vital for effective prevention work, to stop violence before it starts. To achieve gender equality in our society, they have created Building Gender Equality, which is available as an open-access resource on the White Ribbon UK website and can guide schools, community groups and other youth-focused organisations who want to create healthier and safer communities.
Headteacher Anthony Guise, of Calder High School, one of the schools where this resource was piloted, said: “’With young people being exposed to increasingly high levels of widening and extreme views via social media and high-profile individuals, it is vital that schools provide safe opportunities for them to discuss and challenge existing and emerging views confidently.
“Through working with White Ribbon, I am proud to provide these opportunities across our school, helping them to become empowered to stand up for their rights and those of others in their communities.”
White Ribbon UK’s new open-access learning resource, Building Gender Equality, is now available on their website. The resource aims to help adults working with children and young people introduce the concepts of gender and inequality in a meaningful way and prevent restrictive and harmful gender traits that lead to gender inequality. It is hoped that this resource will create healthier and safer communities and empower young people to stand up for their rights.
