‘Poor taste’: Brisbane school holds nappychanging activity to mark International Women’s Day
A Brisbane school has been criticised for acting “in poor taste” after posting images of a nappy-changing activity held on International Women’s Day on Facebook.
Stretton State College posted the photo of students with nappies and dolls among images of different events held to celebrate the day. They included selling cookies and a photo station with a border featuring the slogan “inspire inclusion”.
A spokesperson for Queensland’s Department of Education said the nappy-changing activity was organised by a group of students to celebrate International Women’s Day, with the oversight of staff and the endorsement of the student council.
“Today we celebrated International Women’s Day and took time to celebrate and bring awareness to the need for a world that is free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that celebrates achievements, diversity and inclusivity across the globe. #inspireinclusion,” a post accompanying the Facebook photos read.
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Students also raised money for body image and eating disorder charity the Butterfly Foundation.
Kara Williams, whose two daughters attend the school, said the activity was “in poor taste” and didn’t reflect the message of inclusion and empowerment that the day was meant to express.
“One daughter said ‘it’s a bit weird’ [after the event],” she said.
“And the younger daughter went ‘What? What’s the point of that?’
“I’m sure that just from the sort of shock and disbelief, I think they probably agreed with me and thought it was not appropriate.”
Williams, who said she wasn’t made aware of the idea in advance, expressed hope that the school has a nappychanging station if they hold a celebration of International Men’s Day on 19 November.
“I’m a registered midwife. So I run antenatal classes with parents, I support same-sex relationships. A lot of my job is around education. And, yes, nappy changing is a practical skill that would be helpful. If an impending parent was to learn that’s fine. Definitely not a high school student.
“Like why can’t we have guest speakers or activities focused on bigger issues rather than can you change a nappy?”
A student from the state school complained that male students had taken the display as an excuse for sexist behaviour.
“It’s just so dumb and a bit kind of hurtful,” they said.
“Just makes me so mad that people connect women to nappy changing.”
Stretton parent Andrea Wildin said she planned to raise the activity with the school parents and citizens association at their next meeting.
“It is definitely one of the things you want your daughter to aspire to is being a good mother. But you also want therm to aspire to being in a trade, and to being in Stem. So perhaps nappy changing could have been combined with robotics,” she said.
The school also held a number of other events for International Women’s Day including a school assembly, student and staff rock band performances, student games and activities, and a senior girls charity lunch.
A spokesperson for the department said the assembly focused on topics “such as closing the gender pay gap, challenging gender stereotypes and the path to achieving gender equality”.
“The activity in question was designed by the year 9 student cohort and welcomed all students to participate and challenge gender stereotypes,” they said
“The school has not received any complaints regarding the event and the response in the community has been extremely positive.
“No further details can be provided due to student and staff privacy issues.”
Stretton State College is one of Australia’s largest schools, with 3,450 students from prep to year 12, in the fastgrowing outer suburbs of Brisbane.