SAF Fishbowl looks at Sexualising Female Teachers
The 2021 Chair of the Social Awareness Forum, S Hlatshwayo shares news on a recent event
The Social Awareness Forum is a youth driven forum at Maritzburg College that deals and discusses social issues in and out of College. I have learnt a lot being part of this initiative, because it gives us the ability to understand social and ethical norms. Students can understand the perspectives of other students and can become well accustomed as well as becoming more aware of the environment around them. It is a safe environment whereby boys voice their opinions on topics at hand, which help educate others. We are a forum that aims to rectify social issues and inequalities across the board.
I have been a member of this forum since 2018 and I can say with confidence that I have grown with the forum. I have gained a lot of knowledge as well as self-confidence. I would encourage more College students to join this forum.
Last week we had our first fishbowl session of the year. It was an internal session and the topic of the day was “Sexualizing Female Teachers”. The forum had identified this as an ongoing issue, as we have had various incidences over the years. We had a female staff member who shared her personal experiences with us. This really put many things into perspective for the boys, as they heard the “other side” of the story.
We also had a presentation from the school’s psychologist who spoke to the boys about the topic and gave brief information on the psychological effects of engaging in such behaviour.
The turnout was amazing with a number of non-SAF members attending the session; this was exciting as it showed the prospects of a great year to come.