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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 21. August 28 1978

Persistent Sexism

Persistent Sexism

Dear Simon,

I would like to congratulate you and your staff on an excellent issue last week. Your special issue on women was both enlightening and constructive. The question that has bothered me for some considerable time, however remained unanswered. Why is it that in some overseas countries, Sweden in particular, where extensive government programs have been carried out, with a view to changing old fashioned ideas about sex roles, women still stay at home and young girls still choose traditionally female school subjects?

Sweden, in an attempt to get more women in the work force, instigated massive legislation, to abolish the sex-role stereotyping they found in their education system. Literature for children was reviewed and in many cases re-written, male pre-school teachers were recruited and other attempts to overcome the traditional prejudices were made. However, despite this large-scale government legislation, research has shown that the children who underwent this form of education in the early 70s, now at school age, persist in choosing school subjects such as needlework in preference to metalwork, home science such as cooking etc. in preference to woodwork, etc.

I am puzzled by this turn of events and somewhat alarmed. Social scientists, psychologists and educationalists have tried everything, could it be that the traditional beliefs about women are so firmly entrenched that even ideologically liberal countries like Sweden are unable to alter?

I would be interested to hear what the males in this country can do, to change these old, outdated and impractical ideas that have been forced down our throats, in the media, at school and all too often at university.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Carr-Gregg.