Apologies: Emily (late), Obai, Michael, Mr North, Jack.

Chair: Ms Critchley

Topic: The Objectification of Women.

Henry: the misogyny in the school affects the way young men relate to women outside the school.

Barnaby: Definitely notices the difference in the way the female students are treated: everyone focuses attention on them, noises and jeering

Mr Leonard: Some students think their attitudes are warranted due to the fact they believe the women are inviting it through how they’re addressed

Henry: It comes across in the language as well – “My ting” – the idea of women being the possession of women.

Alistair: Fundamentally being a single sex school is a problem, the lack of contact with girls and women affects the boys experience – this isn’t an excuse though. One approach would be to turn it into a mixed school.

Ms Critchley: Argues that it’s not so important what happens in other schools. Curious about how women are treated differently in the school.

Barnaby: The teachers don’t seem to be as subject to the sexist behaviour as the support teachers and 6th form women.

Henry: Poor behaviour seems to happen more in classes taught by women.

Dewi: There’s a general lack of respect for female teachers in school – a marked difference between this and how men are treated. Mentioned that in Science, the atmosphere is different between the way male and female students are regarded.

Mr Leonard: Referred to a supply teacher as “I’d do her”.

Ms Lucking: talked about the Year 7 students and how they seem to regress when they arrive in the school. Some students wondered if this was a consequence of coming from a single sex environment.

Alistair: One of the first notable things about the school that there were no female students and that this inferred that there was a barrier between boys and girls.

Ms Lucking: Went to a girls’ school, and recalled the sense of difference she felt between girls and boys. She felt she was taught that women could be very empowered.

Ms Critchley: When she went powerboat driving and was teased that she crashed the

Mr Howeld: One of the biggest problems is that these issues are not properly addressed – the problem is leaving this alone.

Alistair: When the main exposure to women is through the media, this can have a problematic effect on people’s perceptions.

Ms Bennett: Teachers can override these preconceptions through taking a strong clear stance

Mr Howeld: The students are not framed as ‘gentlemen’ in the school – this is something that’s not encouraged.

Ms Lucking: Remember not to be overwhelmed by the negativity.