ACLU Report: RI Elementary Schools Promote Gender Stereotypes
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
A report issued Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island finds that elementary schools in RI still promote gender stereotypes, “despite decades of progress toward gender equality.”
The report “Girls Just Wanna Darn Socks,” is based on a survey of 40 elementary schools in 16 school districts. The report states that the schools’ promotion of parent teacher association (PTA) and parent teacher organization (PTO) activities such as dances and pajama parties for girls reinforce outdated stereotypes of gender roles in Rhode Island’s youngest residents.
“Rhode Island girls, routinely sent to dances, are fed the same tired stereotype that they must look pretty and be social, while boys are given access to magic and science shows and physical activities – their own and others – like PawSox games and trampoline parks,” the report stated. The ACLU found that during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years, 80% of “girls’ events” at the 40 elementary schools studied were dances. Other events held for girls generally encompassed pajama parties, yoga nights, and blanket sewing. The activities for boys, on the other hand, “were much more diverse,” and included baseball and hockey games, science and magic shows, and outings for laser tag, bowling, and arcade games.
The report argues that the use of school resources to support these “stereotypical and discriminatory” events undermines Title IX, the anti-discrimination law.
The report called on schools to stop support of these types of “discriminatory extracurricular events,” and instead discuss with PTO/PTAs the need to promote gender-inclusive activities.
The General Assembly enacted a law in 2013 authorizing gender-exclusive extracurricular activities, but required them to be “reasonably comparable.” The ACLU and women’s rights groups opposed the legislation.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTImage Credit: Judy Baxter/flickr
Related Articles
- NEW: ACLU, Common Cause Criticize Chafee for not Releasing Report
- NEW: Kilmartin slams ACLU for “one-sided” view of APRA enforcement
- RI ACLU Says Internet Censorship in Public Schools Goes Too Far
- LIVE STREAM- RI ACLU Press Conference- Youth Suspension Implications
- NEW: Letter to ACLU Claims Pool Closing Violates City Charter
- NEW: ACLU Says AG’s Office Needs to Step Up Enforcement of Open Records Law
- NEW: ACLU Files Brief in U.S. Supreme Court in Open Records Case
- NEW: ACLU Wants Review of San Bento/Tobon Election
- ACLU Defends Longtime Medical Marijuana Users Against State
- NEW: ACLU, Groups Urge Rejection of Providence Lobbying Ordinance
- PowerPlayer: RI ACLU Director Steve Brown
- NEW: ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Rhode Island Board of Education
- NEW: Rhode Island ACLU Blasts Board of Education NECAP Vote
- NEW: ACLU Files Suit Over Medical Marijuana Discrimination
- NEW: ACLU Calls for Investigation of Cranston Police Dept. Practices
- NEW: ACLU Sues Providence Police for Violation at Raimondo Fundraiser
- NEW: RI ACLU Announces Racial Disparities Increasing During Motor Vehicle Stops
- ACLU Questions Kennedy Plaza Security System
- TONIGHT: Fund for Community Progress Honors GoLocalProv + ACLU
- RI ACLU Finds Suspension Discrepancy for Black vs. White Students
- NEW: RI ACLU Announces Third Lawsuit Against RI Education Board
- NEW: RI ACLU Files New Motion Against Board of Education
- ACLU: Dept of Ed Admits NECAP Does Not Measure College Readiness
- NEW: ACLU, Advocacy Groups Battle RIDE Over RI NECAP Scores
- Racial Disparities Report by RI ACLU Called “Extraordinary” by Community Leaders
