Is stereotyping prevalent in New Zealand School? The Zonta Club of East Auckland thought it was worth debating at the annual schools debate between Botany Downs Secondary College and Sancta Maria College on Tuesday evening.
The debate, in its 12th year, was hosted at the Howick Club and had the Sancta Maria College team of Danica Loulie-Wijtenburg, Kelly Mascarenhas and Meggy Laguda astutely argue in the affirmative– this house believes gender stereotyping is prevalent in New Zealand schools.
The Botany Downs Secondary College team represented by Farzana Rahimi, Shaquille Chandra and Akaash Shahikumar pointedly questioned: ‘do you think Jacinda Ardern with a baby along the way would be Prime Minister of the country if there was gender stereotyping in our country?’
Do subjects offered at school have a gender? Do sporting games have a gender? Why don’t girls take up rugby and wood work and opt for fashion designing and food technology? Does leadership have a gender? These were some of the provocative questions which arose.
The adjudicators had a hard time mulling over the points and finally it was the all-girl team from Sancta Maria College who won the shield.
The win was an equaliser with both Botany Downs Secondary College and Sancta Maria College having won the annual school debate shield exactly six times each in the last 12 years.
