Hyppolite Fontaine high school tackles sexism in its Foot section
It is well known in a “normal” world men play kicking and women applaud in the stands. Or a young man who does classical dance is probably gay. You might think these bad pictures are out of date, but no they die hard. So to wring their necks, the Hippolyte Fontaine high school in Dijon has just invited its students to work on the issue of sexism.
The invited high school the Compagnie Le Trimaran, specializing in social issues, performing sketches of everyday life, stuffed with sexist nuggets and homophobic remarks. In front of them, three classes from the second to the final. Girls and boys who have in common to be in the football sports section. Young generation or not, sexism has a hard life and Camélia regularly suffers from it “When the boys say that I play soccer, I often hear” Yeah, but the girls suck at soccer, go to the kitchen instead. “Well, not all boys react like that, and know that we can be very strong, but others, well … pfff what! “ she ends sorry.
“I’m not against anything, but I’m not for either ..” Franck, a high school student
Girls who play a reputedly masculine sport, athletes who publicly assume their homosexuality, or teams that accept transgender people. You might think that in 2021 all of this goes without saying, but no, it’s still difficult for Franck to accept.. “Well, all that doesn’t interest me too much, I’m not against anything, but I’m not for either. I feel like I already know everything about it, and then anyway, people like that ( homos or trans Editor’s note) I don’t know any and we don’t see any in sport. “
Sowing seeds of reflection
“Who is homophobic in the room?” This is a question asked by the three actors of the Compagnie du Trimaran: Surprise, with both boys and girls, a few hands are raised. It does not shock Yohann Rousseau, one of the actors accustomed to this debate in high schools across all of France: “For me, it’s not a concern, I prefer that they claim it and that we can talk about it. They are often the same arguments, we speak of an attitude” against nature “or the risk of all To find themselves homosexual, which is absurd of course. We want to plant seeds of reflection that they are not necessarily found around them. That is what is interesting. “
And now what will be left of all this? Pascal Godin the sports teacher who wanted to trigger this debate with a little idea behind his head: “In addition to our football sections, we have plans to open a” refereeing “section in which I really hope that there is a mix of genres, girls and boys.”
“We respect everyone’s opinions, but the spirit of openness has never claimed victims” conclude the actors of the Company. “While rejection of the other can be profoundly blessing. Think about it.”
A photo exhibition to “get your ideas straight”
And if you too want to think about bad clichés, we advise you to go for a walk to Darcy Park in Dijon. On the park gates, there is a photo exhibition that reverses stereotypes. A man who does the housework while the lady is hanging out on the sofa, or a frightened young guy who gets hissed in the street by aggressive girls. It is signed from Women’s Rights Collective 21 and it is very informative.