IDENTITY
Amongst all the issues concerning identity that have been discussed at the College this year, none has been more prominent than that of gender equality. Rohan Mistry (Year 13) charts the emergence of Equality Society, the weekly discussion forum that kick-started the debate Birth of a movement T his year, a key goal of the Senior Prefect body has been to promote acceptance and
Committee was also able to host a talk by Laura Bates, the founder of the Everyday Sexism project. Laura came to speak to over 100 boys and girls from the Foundation schools in January. An incredibly charismatic and inspirational figure, she spoke of how she had been moved by the everyday sexism experienced by both men and women and how she felt she needed to do something after an especially tough week in 2012. Those who had come to watch Laura in the auditorium of the new Laboratory were left speechless at some of the utterly shocking statistics she imparted: one in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes, and globally one in three women will experience violence at the hands of a male partner, to name two of the most outrageous. However, Laura’s optimistic, empowering and inspirational message of a ground-up movement to change the ethos and culture of not only Britain but also the world was thought provoking and galvanising. The Dulwich community was in clear agreement about the challenge, but also the significance and value of the cause. We are incredibly proud of The Equality movement that my team and I have started at DC. I have no doubt that we will continue to work towards its goals at Dulwich and throughout our lives.
The Committee, run by Dan Norton- Smith, Barnaby Mills, Michael Bacon, Uzair Malida and I, formulated the idea of creating a society which would meet weekly to provide an arena for any and all ideas to be discussed, debated and observed; a place where those who might be unaware of certain ideas or cultures in the world could listen but also engage and ask questions. Since the foundation of the society we have held over 20 talks, with numbers growing and growing week by week. I can say with confidence that the Equality Society is one of, if not the, most popular society at DC, and also within the Foundation schools. Being able to partner and learn from JAGS in the creation process was invaluable and now the Society has a regular mix of both boys and girls. Moreover, it is refreshing to see that week on week the audience has changed and diversified: where previously the society had a dedicated cohort, now, no matter what interests or type of person – Rugby, Drama, academic, shy, confident – all are willing to join the discussion and are enthusiastic about coming along. The talks have ranged from freedom of speech to feminism to fascism and there continues to be a long waiting list of individuals (boys, girls, teachers, students) who want to give a talk to the 50-plus audience each week. With coordination and help from JAGS and Alleyn’s, the Equality
diversity against a global backdrop of rising discrimination and intolerance. One would hope this is the aim of any institution and government, especially at a time when many people feel more divided, and it is right that Dulwich should take on such a global, ambitious and worthwhile cause on a local level at a time when it was most needed. The team put together to take on this duty was first labelled the ‘Dulwich College Pro-feminism Team’; however, after further discussion, we felt that the term ‘equality’ was more appropriate, as it gave greater scope for discussion of issues regarding gender, the growing LGBT+ community, sexuality, race, income and much more. The Equality Committee would look to explore all these issues within the already progressive attitudes of the College. We never had the intention of shoving alternative views down boys’ throats; rather we wanted to promote further a tolerant, accepting and diverse community that is unafraid to speak out on issues, but also makes a positive difference. We knew that from a pupil’s perspective we could do even more to help encourage the development of well-rounded young men – men who are aware, supportive and inquisitive about today’s big issues. We were the ones who were passionate to see this plan take action.
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