Young people challenging gender injustice
How do gender injustices affect young people? Catriona Muckart, a young Christian Aid supporter from Scotland, explores how youth-led spaces play an important role in tackling the issue.
‘My jumper would make a better president than Donald Trump!’
This was one of the comments from the lively discussion at my youth group in Glasgow recently.
We were talking about gender in relation to Trump’s election. One of the most worrying aspects was the messages it sends to young people.
The president of the US is a powerful and influential public figure. But the current president-elect has consistently displayed racist and sexist behaviour. He has defended misogyny as ‘locker-room talk’, and has repeatedly objectified, belittled and stereotyped women.
How do we tell children and young people that misogynistic and racist behaviour is unacceptable when it is so blatantly accepted?
Growing up at risk
Young people are currently growing up in a society where there’s a risk of sexual assault and harassment at schools and universities. One in three 16–18 year old girls have been sexually assaulted at school over the last three years.
These environments also foster unhealthy models of masculinity. Young men feel pressured to conform to a toxic hyper-masculine ideal that is harmful to people of all genders.
These kinds of issues are not restricted to educational settings. Many young people going into their first jobs, for example, will face similar experiences.
For young people who have experienced sexual assault it is important that they see those in power seeking to tackle those behaviours, not legitimise them. Sadly this is far from the current situation.
Chances to engage with the issues
To achieve a more equal society, we need to give young people opportunities to gather, discuss and engage with issues that affect them.
Youth groups — whether community or church-based — are hugely important in providing these opportunities.
The Iona Community does a lot of work with young people in Glasgow on a regular basis. Once a year it brings young people from around the world to Iona for a week to discuss a particular theme. This year, it was ‘Speaking Truth to Power’. It’s a great opportunity to hear and learn from people of other nationalities and backgrounds.
There are other opportunities too. The National Youth Assembly of the Church of Scotland is an annual event where people aged 17- 25 can meet, share ideas, worship and learn together.
Side by Side, a global movement started by Christian Aid, brings together people of all faiths to tackle gender injustice.
Elevate the voices of young people
These are just a few examples of organisations seeking to elevate the voices of young people as an urgent force for change, in the present not just the future.
It is vital that movements like these are encouraged to grow.
Let’s make sure they get the resources and support they need to work towards equality and justice — with young people at the helm.
