Women's Views on News |
| Gender identity questions in schools Posted: 09 May 2016 02:37 PM PDT
Although more and more pupils are raising issues around their gender identity, there is some concern that schools and colleges are not adequately prepared to support and educate young people. But last month education staff were able to voice their concerns about the lack of meaningful, informed discussion surrounding gender identity in schools. Julia Neal, the deputy director of a sixth form in Devon, proposed a motion about these concerns be debated at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers’ (ATL) annual conference, because she was concerned about how unprepared schools were. She said: “We are not addressing the issues effectively in many schools and colleges. I want to emphasise the need for specialist training for senior managers and governors. "Leaders need to be prepared to guide staff and support young people.” Jill was one of three ATL members who told their stories to highlight the issues staff and students are facing. Jill was an assistant head teacher at an independent school when she transitioned. “There’s an attitude of ignore it and it’ll go away. The excuses have to be removed. “When I transitioned I was tolerated, partially because I was essential to the functioning of the school and also because I was politically astute about the situation – I did everything I could to minimise the impact and prevent controversy. "I provided training to senior staff and the deputy head then trained all staff. "The problem was this was reduced to statutory Equality Act guidance, with no real explanation of LGBT or protected characteristics. Any LGBT colleagues and pupils were really no better off. "For example it didn’t stop some colleagues making jokes to each other and to pupils. “Some schools are doing a really great job. They’ve made trans their ‘thing’. But by and large there is an attitude of, ‘If we leave it alone, it’ll go away, there’s no one like that here, this doesn’t apply to us.’ The vast majority of schools think they can ignore it. “The fact SRE [Sex and Relationships Education] isn’t compulsory is a big issue. SRE is often well meaning but not well informed. "Trans is usually not covered and when it is, it is often confused as an issue of sexuality not gender. "Trans should be addressed and not just in a statutory sense, for example noting inclusion in the Equality Act, but with SRE. “Trusted information needs to be available for young people. There is so much negativity and misconceptions in the press and online. "Very few schools support LGBT History Month, which would be a positive move. "Staff need training delivered by trans specialist groups. "Crucially Department for Education [DfE] support is needed. Without their direction schools are too able to ignore it. The excuses have to be removed and education must provide an understanding of this protected group. "We can’t keep producing generations of misinformed children.” A motion ‘challenging gender identity prejudice in education’ was proposed by Julia Neal, Equality and Diversity Committee; and seconded by Nic Preston, Equality and Diversity Committee: ‘That Conference deplores the paucity of meaningful and informed discussion of gender identity and trans issues within schools and colleges. ‘Young people with questions about or an interest in gender identity have very few reliable sources with which to counter the factually incorrect, prejudicial and abusive messages that often prevail in social media, traditional media and on the internet. Conference therefore calls upon the Executive Committee to: Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: “We welcome increased discussion around gender identity and want to support young people, but that requires well-trained teachers, delivering well-informed and inclusive Sex and Relationships Education. "As education staff we want to support those young people to feel confident and to get the expert help and advice they need to flourish. "Let’s not leave young people to educate themselves on these issues via misconceptions and bigotry so often found in the media and online. "Trans issues present yet more impetus on the call for Nicky Morgan to reverse her decision and make SRE mandatory for all students.”  |
| Best practise for women-centred solutions Posted: 09 May 2016 08:55 AM PDT
The Women Centred Working initiative has published a new guide to help local authorities explore the potential benefits doing things in a 'women centred' way could bring to their services and communities. The initiative was set up to share best practice in designing and delivering better services for women facing severe and inter-related disadvantages, including domestic violence and sexual abuse, addictions, homelessness and mental health issues. Its new publication, Taking Forward Women Centred Solutions, demonstrates how gendered approaches can help unlock solutions to complex problems and deliver multiple benefits women and their families facing multiple disadvantage – while making better use of public resources. The project is funded by the Lankelly Chase Foundation through its Promoting Social Change Programme, tackling root causes of multiple disadvantage. The initiative is based at WomenCentre Calderdale and Kirklees and grew out of decades of experience of working with women in local communities. The guide, launched at WomenCentre in Halifax, maps the principles of gendered working against local authority priorities, such as improving efficiency, prompting prevention, building community resilience and tackling inter-generational disadvantage. It offers practical suggestions for ways in which councils can benefit from incorporating women centred thinking into existing practices. It also sets out the business case for integrated, community-based support. And case studies unpick 'what went right' in areas where councils and public and third sector partners have come together with positive results. Oldham Council's Early Help service transformation model draws on women as 'community assets'. The Way Forward, a multi-agency project in Calderdale, has enabled 135 young women at risk to address substance misuse and other unsafe behaviour and embark upon jobs and courses. Local authorities and public agencies in Barrow have joined up to establish a women-centred hub, which is improving the lives of women with complex needs and providing a valuable local resource. Women Centred Working is an initiative set up to encourage the design and delivery of more effective services for women who are facing multiple disadvantages. Hard copies of the guide are available on request.  |
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