Breaking the norms
We want equal treatment for all in schools
The Union of Vocational Students of Finland – SAKKI, together with the Finnish LGBTQI rights organization – SETA and the Swedish-speaking School Student Union of Finland – FSS started a campaign about fighting societal norms which foster social exclusion and barriers.
A norm is an established standard of behaviour shared by members of a social group to which each member is expected to conform, including assumptions about how people are and how they should be. These norms and standards can be unspoken, and can determine and what is “in” and what is “out”, determine societal hierarchies, thus defining the general norms in societies. The stronger the norm is, the harder it is to draw attention to it as a “norm”. Very often people take note of norms only when they are violated or broken. Heteronormativity and gender norms are among the strongest in our societies.
The project aims to promote equal treatment and a safe learning environment for all in schools, regardless of gender identity. The campaign wants to raise awareness of existing norms, to trigger debate about these, and empower school students with the attitudes, skills and knowledge to combat discrimination and stereotypes based on norms.
The campaign was launched, because we saw that there are a lot of norms within the school setting, where students who are considered to be “different” are easily left “out”, discriminated against, and often bullied. Societal norms can also be found in the educational curricula, teachers themselves can cultivate and maintain societal standards and thus it is important to put a spotlight on this issue. By raising awareness about the existence of societal norms, and criticizing societal standards which promote inequalities, we are combating discrimination.
We hope that this campaign will wake people up, make people aware, and teach them that everyone should be him- or herself and everyone should appreciate others as they are. We hope that it will pave the way for everyone to be seen as an individual, treated equally and not cast in a given role. This campaign will breakdown norms which create exclusion, question social hierarchies and give chance to true parity. We want equal treatment for all in schools, respecting one-another’s individuality, autonomy and the right to a safe learning environment.
Written by Musa Jallow – SAKKI
