Gender Equality Committee to discuss norms and stereotypes in education with the Minister for Education Norma Foley

The Joint Committee on Gender Equality will meet on Thursday May 19th to resume its discussion on the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality regarding Norms & Stereotypes and Education.

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House between 09:30-12:30.

The Minister for Education Norma Foley will address the Committee in the first session, from 9.30 until 11.00. In the second session, from 11.00 to 12.30, the Committee will engage with Emily Sheridan – Treasurer and web manager with Women in Research Ireland, Dr Cathy Corcoran – Women in Research Ireland Committee Member and Dr Katriona O'Sullivan of Maynooth University.

Women in Research Ireland is a volunteer-run charity working towards increased representation and equality for women, nonbinary, and genderfluid persons and members of under-represented groups working in research and academia in Ireland.

Dr O’Sullivan is Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University who has published research on gender, equality, inclusion and STEM.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Ivana Bacik said: “This week the Committee is looking at the implementation of the recommendations related to Norms and Stereotypes and Education contained in the Citizens’ Assembly report on Gender Equality.”

“Despite improvement in recent years, we need to think about how gender stereotypes and inequalities play out across our education system from primary to third level. Subject choices and college course choices among students often remain constrained by limiting beliefs about abilities based on gender roles and stereotypes.”

“Among the issues the Committee will discuss are resourcing schools to ensure equality, subject choices for secondary school students, the intersection between gender and class regarding access to education.”

“We look forward to hearing the views of the Minister on these issues and her Department’s plans to tackle the issues outlined.”

Watch Committee proceedings live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android