IWD 2021: #ChooseToChallenge
On 8 March 2021, the mission participants of Good Shepherd Student Care (GSSC) commemorated International Women’s Day (IWD). It was a day where the upper primary students learnt about gender (in)equality, stereotypes, and equal rights. They were introduced to how women fought for these rights, so that the girls now are able to study and wear the clothes they wished to wear. The students also discovered just how arduous a journey the women of the past had to go through so that women today, are allowed to vote today. Medical care, which is easily available to everyone nowadays, was unavailable to women in the past. Even if healthcare was made available, they were granted very limited resources. When the students heard about all these, they were simply aghast – how could this be? As they watched an informative clip (What is International Women’s Day? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PzWnljCpL0) depicting IWD and the challenges women faced, the students learnt that they could contribute to change and challenge stereotypes associated with women.
The students learning that they can make a difference and contribute to change
The students also learnt about some of the great women who inspired the world and advocated for change, such as Malala, Princess Diana, and Aung San Suu Kyi. Some of the students who already knew the stories of those great women excitedly shared their thoughts about them during the presentation to the entire class.
Jane (Primary 6) accorded on her knowledge of how Malala is an activist who travels around the world to fight for the rights of girls who were affected by poverty, wars, child marriage and gender discrimination and encourages them to go to school.
Shirley (Primary 5) shed some light on how Princess Diana was inspirational to others because of her ability to speak her mind freely, courage in breaking protocols when needed and the nature of treating everyone with kindness.
We are certain that the students were enlightened through this sharing and video, because it brings home the message that even as girls/women, we can create change. We are the change.
Learning about the women who impacted the world.
In light of this year’s theme, #ChooseToChallenge, the students were encouraged to raise their hands to demonstrate their support and solidarity for the movement. They were enthusiastic and eager to do so because they knew that deep down, this was only a start for them. They were ready to bring about change and challenge the world, one raised hand at a time.
The children ended off the day by doing a short quiz, where some of them were eager to share their answers. It was done to test their understanding of the importance of celebrating IWD.
For example, one of the questions from the quiz was
“Regardless of gender, everyone is granted the same rights, privileges and access to opportunities. This is the meaning of ___.”
The children eagerly put up their hands as they knew the answer to it. Caitlin (Primary 3) then gave the correct answer, which was gender equality.
Another example of a question was
“Women were finally granted a suffrage after a series of protests and rallies. What does suffrage mean?”
The students grappled with this as it was a new term that they learnt, but eventually, Jenna (Primary 3) answered that it was the right to vote in political elections.
They also did a word search which consisted of key words like “leadership”, “liberty”, and “justice”.
Many students shared that they did not know of IWD, and others could not fathom how women in the past could not vote, did not have access to healthcare, and could not go to school. Hence, through this activity and sharing, they learnt just how precious these resources are, and how they can stand up for their rights. We hope that the young students can grow up to be the change they want to see in the world because, as Michelle Obama said, “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
The students participating in the quiz.
The students had a go at the word search.
By Ms Lian Xin Hui Bathilda and Ms Kuganeswarry D/O Rajandran
Teachers
Good Shepherd Student Care
Singapore