EPISD, Center Against Sexual and Family Violence team up to discuss gender roles at Andress High

Andress High students will have a new component added to their health class. The El Paso ISD officially announced its partnership with the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV) at Tuesday’s board meeting.

CASFV will come into classrooms and work with students to find out what their attitudes are about gender roles, the goal being to prevent violence and sexual abuse through education.

It’s questions such as “How do we reduce violence against women? Does it come from stereotypes young people have been exposed to or that they learned culturally?” are what CASFV wants to answer by talking to students.

“When I ask you, what are the attributes of a woman, what would you say?” asked Bonnie Escobar, CASFV director of strategic development. “What would you say if I asked you what are the attributes of a man? You’d say strong, powerful. But those attributes can apply just as easily to women as they do to men.”

Yet that perspective still isn’t depicted in mainstream media which may be shaping the ways teens not only see each other, but treat each other. CASFV will conduct “primary prevention” in Andress High health classes, challenging students, stretching the stereotypes that tell them it’s OK to be violent against women.”

“It’s OK to push them around,” Escobar said. “Like Dolce and Gabana. They usually have a man that’s very powerful and strong, and a women that’s submissive.”

Last year the Center helped more than 3,000 victims of abuse and sexual assault. Yet some may argue believing in traditional gender roles doesn’t contribute to violence. They’d say these courses, instead, are a part of a movement meant to feminize males.

“It’s not about feminizing,” Escobar said. “It’s also about questioning what’s women’s attitudes are regarding what the men’s roles are in relationships. We rely on men to be the breadwinner. We rely on men to make the decisions. Why can’t it be a joint decision? It’s equal in both ways.

The program will begin in the fall, with the potential to be taught at every EPISD high school in the future.