Many teachers still lack sensitivity and understanding when it comes to gender education, falling back in many cases on stereotypical sexual divisions, activists say.
Members of the Taipei Association for the Promotion of Women's Rights (
"We've found that a large number of the counselors have stereotypical impressions of the roles played by the two sexes and tend to put blame for cases of sexual assault on women," said Hu Ai-ling (胡藹玲), chief of the association's gender education task force.
Gender education has been compulsory in Taiwan's primary and secondary schools since 1997.
Up to 54 percent of the counselors surveyed agree that "men are physically stronger and are more suitable than women to do heavy work such as moving tables and chairs."
Another 50 percent agree that "women can reduce the possibility of being sexually harassed or assaulted if they are careful about their behavior and the clothes they wear."
"Such widespread beliefs are an obstacle to the promotion of gender equality education," Hu said.
Almost half of the counselors said they believe the purpose of gender and sex education was "to establish mutual respect between the sexes, so that they may live together peacefully." Only 15 percent said they believe it is "to achieve gender equality," the survey showed.
On the question of what should be done to boost the promotion of gender education in schools, 77 percent of the counselors said professional training for teachers who offer such counseling is needed the most; 70 percent said more teaching materials were needed.
When asked how the four-hour-per-semester compulsory gender education program is conducted, the survey found that 96 percent of the schools give relevant lessons during the counseling session; 84 percent have professionals give speeches to students; and 71 percent hold other activities.
In response to the survey, Tseng Tsan-chin (
For example, Tseng said, seminars are held regularly for teachers from different schools to share their experiences and compare their accomplishments, and professors who have specialized in the field are invited to give lectures to the teachers.
At present, courses on gender issues are not required to be held in teachers' training colleges.
Bruce Wu (吳榮鎮), a section chief from the Ministry of Education's committee on school discipline and moral education, said that his committee has encouraged teachers' training colleges to offer the gender education courses for trainee teachers, but added that each college has autonomy over the design of its curriculum.
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