School is the place where everything takes place. Whether it’s writing your name for the first time or finding out what you’re most passionate about, school will always have a significant place in every young person’s life. This means what you learn and experience at school is what’s preparing you for the outside world.

This goes from personal criteria to ethical principles and morals. All of these different puzzle pieces are meant to end up making you a thoughtful and well-rounded member of society.

But what happens when those lessons are undermined by behaviors like sexism? What kind of individual does a teenage boy become when he tells a female peer, “Go back to the house to clean”? And what does it say about a female peer when she silently receives this comment and says nothing about it?

Sexism isn’t something we can overlook, it’s more present in education around the world and we need to start taking action for it as soon as possible.

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The Normalization of Sexist Comments and Behavior

As much as it hurts to say this, receiving sexist comments isn’t something rare. What’s worse is, there always manages to be an excuse. “Boys will be boys” they’d say. This is when we speak up.

The first step to getting rid of sexism is actually acknowledging it, and saying something about it. Society has made such a taboo of this matter, we forget that it’s precisely something that needs to be spoken about. The more we confront it, the easier it will be to get rid of it. Instead of dismissing it, we have to do exactly the opposite, we need to address it.

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The Rise of Sexual Harassment in Schools

As we all know, sometimes it doesn’t simply stop at comments. Data from the 2020–2021 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) indicated that U.S. public schools reported approximately 2,700 incidents of sexual assault and 17,000 allegations of harassment or bullying based on [censored].

A lot of people aren’t aware of these situations. Suddenly, it’s the “If it doesn’t happen to anyone I know, I don’t have to care about it”.

The thing is, I don’t blame them. Sexual harassment is something that can be almost invisible, and if one doesn’t receive the right awareness on it, it can basically seem it doesn’t exist. This is our own society’s fault. No one has taken the time to sit teenagers down and actually inform them on this topic.

This data is only talking about U.S. public schools, but I can assure you this is something that happens absolutely everywhere, and we’re only talking about schools here.

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The Role of Schools in Addressing Gender Discrimination

To start steering towards change, there has to be a starting point. That’s where schools come in.

As I stated earlier, schools are absolutely fundamental in the personal development of teenagers. Although they are not completely oblivious to gender discrimination, they often aren't doing enough. For example, some schools invite guest speakers or organize workshops on gender issues. This can be somewhat helpful, but I guarantee you 80% of the boys in the class won’t have paid attention to a word that has been said.

Instead, schools could organize collaborative projects so that students do their own research and come up with their own conclusions. This way, students are in direct contact with the topic and can engage with it on a deeper level. When students take an active role in their learning—rather than passively listening to a lecture—they are more likely to retain information and reflect on the matter more efficiently.

Another thing schools need to do to contribute to the eradication of gender discrimination, is to create a culture of accountability. This means encouraging students to call out sexist behavior without fear and having them know that they will be heard and that there will be something done in response.

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The Broader Consequences for Society

It doesn't stop here. Allowing gender discrimination to persist in schools doesn’t only affect school environments, but will have serious repercussions for the future of our generation. These problems will lead onto future workplaces and relationships, leading on to a once again, sexist society.

It will also end up perpetuating gender inequality in leadership and career opportunities. How crazy would it be for it to be 2050 and for there not to have been the first female president of the U.S. yet?

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Call to Action

This is where I tell you how we need to end gender discrimination once and for all for the good of our future society. But the truth is, it all starts with you, the reader. I’m glad to inform you that just by reading this article, you’re already chipping in to the fight against gender discrimination. Awareness is the first step toward change, and by educating yourself on these issues, you’re helping to put an end to the silence that allows inequality to persist.

I urge you though, to not just stop at awareness. True change happens when we take action. Speak up when you hear a sexist remark, challenge outdated norms, and stand up for those who experience gender discrimination. Demand that schools do better – push for further education on gender equality, stronger policies against harassment, and an environment where everyone is safe and respected.

The future of our society depends on the choices we make today. So don’t let this article be just a simple read–let it be a call to action.