ST. KEVINS’ COLLEGE: HAS SEXISM GONE OFF THE RAILS?

Introduction: Last October, a group of private school boys from St. Kevins’ College chanted a sexist song
on a packed tram in Melbourne. For a couple kilometres, all that was heard in this tram were disgusting,
atonal screams of blatant sexism. Obviously, this is extremely sexist and immature, and very much hurtful
for women.

Argument 1: Considering what has happened, it has become obvious that other men need to call out this
bad behaviour, as these school boys don’t seem to respect the opinion of women very much, nor do they
seem to respect women at all. These behaviours and opinions should no longer be amongst the majority of
men and should be degraded. Patty Kinnersly, the chief executive of domestic violence charity ‘Our Watch’,
has spoke about this issue, stating that "As long as women and girls are seen as less equal than men and
boys, disrespect and violence against women will continue". A bystander on the tram named Melanie stated
that "You felt there was no respect for women. You felt that you couldn't say anything and if you did, I think
you'd be really concerned about what might happen next.". This is heartbreaking, and is why these sexist
remarks and chants should be stopped at the source.

Argument 2: In addition, As is widely known, sexism is a kind of prejudice, and nobody is born with
prejudice. Throughout history, sexist opinions and beliefs have been drilled into the minds of young boys,
and those young boys grow to become fathers, and those fathers teach their kids the same opinions and
beliefs. In some societies and religions, women are seen as lesser than men, and boys such as those of St.
Kevins’ College take that as an opportunity to say disgusting remarks and chants. Meghan Markle spoke on
prejudice in an intrview about her and Harry’s engagement. "It's a shame that that is the climate in this
world, to focus that much on that, to be discriminatory in that sense…”

Argument 3: Sexism is not only taught to children throughout their bringing-up, but it is also seen and
sometimes encouraged within school and schoolgrounds. Phrases such as “throw like a girl”, or “kick like a
girl”, are obviously degrading women and their physical abilities. This must be discouraged and should be
replaced with thoughts of equality and equity. Gloria Steinem has said that “We've begun to raise daughters
more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters.”, which is bringing
attention to the imbalance of children being raised.

Opposing Argument: Many people may argue that ‘boys will be boys’, or that they’re ‘just having fun’.
These beliefs are large parts of the issue. Children should not be taught that they can be disrespectful and
spread hate for the sheer reason that they are boys.

Conclusion: Sexism has recently become unnoticed, and has spread like a virus throughout communities of
boys and men alike. We need to stop this, and ask ourselves a question. Why is it that we are giving young
boys the permission to disrespect and degrade girls and women around them?