By Ornella Attias, Year 12
Gender roles, societal expectations, and double standards are all issues that are prominent in today’s society. The rise of globalisation and the expansion of social media influence makes younger generations especially susceptible to these matters. The impact of social media on society is so significant that norms become skewed. For instance, being a misogynist can be considered “trendy” by young men, women believe they need to wear a size 0 to be socially accepted, and so much more. The We for S/He club at LGB serves as a platform where different types of social dilemmas such as these can be freely discussed.
One week, the club presented on Andrew Tate, a public figure known for his misogynistic and extreme views. The group then spoke about to what extent they agree or disagree with Andrew Tate and the possible impacts his views have on our society. Within the conversation, there were many opposing viewpoints present, helping to make the discussion more interesting and leading to well-constructed conclusions. This past week, on February 9, the topic of the week was double standards. Should a man be allowed to behave in a way that a woman shouldn’t? (Or vice versa). This club encourages clashing views to be discussed and serves as a safe space for everyone to share their opinions and beliefs.
One of the co-leaders, Tuana Kardas, expressed that “it is a club where we value insights from both young men and women when diving into contemporary topics. It is a safe space where we share informative slides that we’ve prepared so that members of the club can bounce off the information and start discussions”.
The We for S/He club at LGB aims to spark debates and encourage students voice their opinions on poignant topics. The club leaders are Tuana Kardas, Eleonora De Prizio, Hector Fringhian, and Emre Balkis, who present a new topic of conversation weekly. The club currently has around 20 participants who meet every Friday morning from 10:30 to 10:55. It is very popular amongst Year 12s, but the leaders would like to have wider participation, and involve students in the years below. The only commitments students must abide by is attending the weekly meetings and being open to engaging in dialogue.
Currently, the club is located in GB202, however, it will be expanding its school-wide presence with future events it will be hosting. On March 8, International Women’s Day, a stand will be set up in front of the cafeteria where students of all ages will be given a chance to write a small message about a woman they love and appreciate. These messages will be written on paper hearts and will be posted up on a board, to hopefully create a collection of meaningful letters. On May 13, the We for S/He club will be hosting a bake sale and will be donating proceeds to an (as of yet) undetermined cause.
For those who are interested in joining, but are still hesitating… Co-leader Eleonora De Prizio shares that “a common misconception of this club is that it is extremely feminist. However, the reality is that we discuss the problems and rights of both men and women”, showing that this club is a safe space for everyone to discuss their opinions!
The We for S/He club is always welcoming new faces and hopes that more LGB students will join!
