Spanish school teaches students housework, a great initiative to fight gender inequality

Ironing, sewing and cooking are basic tasks that many people tend to learn at home. When this happens at school, as an extra activity, the situation changes a little. With the aim of sparking discussions about gender and breaking down some deeply rooted stereotypes among young people, Colégio Montecastelo, in Spain, decided to adopt the motto “equality is learned from facts” and began to offer these activities to young people.

O awesome.club he was very interested in the initiative and believes that it could be the beginning of an important movement.

In 2018, a school in the city of Vigo gained prominence when it announced that it would run an extra class in which it would teach male students some tasks known in English as ‘home skills‘ (activities from home). Ironing, sewing and cooking and activities such as carpentry, electrical and plumbing tips are the main activities of the project.

All classes, offered to final year students, are given by teachers, parents or interested parties, on a voluntary basis.

Gabriel Bravo, coordinator of the establishment, said in an interview for a newspaper that all these activities started to be carried out “because it seemed useful for the students to learn to carry out these tasks for when they decided to start a family. It is important that this happens from an early age, so that they understand that a house is a place for two people, and the woman has no obligation to do anything for the man. This allows students to become aware and learn to take care of their homes.”

The idea was born in a planning meeting. The high school team thought of different ways to promote gender equality among students. The project was presented to parents and students. The first accepted just in time. The students, on the other hand, were a little uncomfortable when they learned that they would learn to sew and iron clothes.

As the students began to perform the tasks, resistance decreased because they realized that the activities were simple and therefore should be performed by both men and women, as long as the step-by-step was respected.

So that each stage of the classes was faced correctly, the school appointed a support person, who could be a father or a mother.

“For some students it was the first time they held an iron. It was fun and interesting at the same time. The school was very surprised and the parents were very happy”, said Bravo in the interview. Students are divided into groups and go through different tasks during the school year. The project was so successful and was so positively received that it should be expanded within the institution.

What is your opinion about this initiative? Do you think it is effective when it comes to combating gender inequality? Do you know of any schools that do something similar? Tell in the comments.