Examining Gender Equity

The annual Upper School Day of Concern is a day for the US community collectively to examine a single social justice issue. On Wednesday, January 25, all regular US classes were suspended, and the theme An Exploration of Gender on the Path to Equity was considered. The Center for Peace Equity and Justice (CPEJ) organized a panel discussion, workshops and affinity spaces to examine how the constructs of gender shapes a person’s experiences, opportunities, goals and aspirations. The Director of CPEJ Kara Kutner comments, “This is one step towards building new understanding, perspectives and knowledge, so that we can begin to rethink gender in ways that leads to greater equity, stronger community and a more peaceful world.”

The day began with a student-directed panel discussion of faculty and outside guests, including Janah Boccia, Anna Dolce Vita and Masha Zabara facilitated workshops that followed. Jenn Croson, who was not part of the panel, led a particularly interesting workshop: Toward a Radical Redefinition of Beauty, grounded in the Pattern and Decoration movement. At the conclusion of the day, Head of Upper School Blair Parker commented, “It was a day filled with important conversations about gender and gender dynamics that need to continue.”

Pictured above: Art teachers Isabel Dominguez and Morgan Acheson hosted the workshop, Mi Yo Dolls/My Me Muñecas. Students created hand-made dolls that represent the self, based on the idea of a child’s “lovey.” Children keep lovies for emotional support and as an outlet for their inner nurturers. Our Yo Dolls were an adult version of these figures. By having a separate symbol of ourselves that we can pick up and nurture, we are reminded to be kinder to ourselves. These dolls are symbols of empowerment and serve as a jumping off point for further discussions about self-acceptance, self-awareness, perfectionism, and the Light within each of us.