Ethics classes are organized only at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące. They are optional and take place in the afternoons, after lessons. Zuzanna Mróz, one of the teachers leading classes for years II–III, sometimes invites guests to show an issue from several perspectives. Each time, the topic discussed is illustrated with a film. They have already discussed abortion, exclusion, racism and the Holocaust. In February, the topic was feminism.
Our journalist Grażyna Hanaf spoke about what feminism is. She presented the movement’s various faces: the darkest one, which includes anger at men when they allow women to be harmed in the name of the law, and the bright one, which is a pursuit of harmony and equal respect for both sexes. She also addressed one of the most important issues in contemporary feminism: changing women’s own views of themselves and overcoming the stereotype of the second sex. She discussed mental barriers using the book by Fatema Mernissi, a Moroccan feminist, as a basis. Mernissi is the author of the books “The European Harem” and “Dreams of Trespass.”
Hanaf explained that feminism also means striving for women’s self-acceptance—their bodies and the roles they perform in life. The most important thing is for them to accept themselves. It does not matter whether they are mothers and wives or perform another role that is less accepted by society, such as politician, engineer or scientist.
At the beginning of the class, the students wrote on pieces of paper what they associated feminism with. The completely anonymous statements show how differently it is perceived. Most students felt that it was a pursuit of gender equality and changing the way people view the sexes. They stressed that neither a man nor a woman should be viewed through the lens of stereotypes. They wrote about the need to respect women’s work and for men to appreciate it. One statement also appeared saying that feminists exaggerate their discrimination, and another that they are really seeking to gain power. One of the students also wrote that feminism is an attempt to deny one’s feminine nature.
Despite their differing views and opinions, the students were open and interested in the topic. After the lecture, they watched the film “Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her,” directed by Rodrigo Garcia, which addresses contemporary women’s problems, as well as their different attitudes and characters.
Our editorial team invites teachers who would like to prepare an unusual lesson. Please contact us by email: redakcja@istotne.pl.