Alberta wants changes to ‘Women Studies’ course
Pembina Hills offering includes lessons in hairstyles, clothing, nail care, etiquette
Alberta’s education minister wants a school division to immediately revamp a course entitled “Women Studies” which teaches tween girls about hairstyles, flattering clothing, dinner party etiquette, polite conversation and doing their nails.
David Eggen says the NDP government has made gender equity a top priority and understands why concerns are being raised about the course offered by the Pembina Hills School Division to girls in Grades 6 to 9.
His officials have spoken to the school division, he said.
“We informed them that all problematic or offensive components must be changed. They have assured me they will make appropriate changes,” Eggen said in an email.
David Garbutt, acting superintendent for the division in central Alberta, was in a board meeting Wednesday and unavailable for an interview.
In a statement, he said the course is a “work in progress” and the board is listening to the constructive criticism it has received.
“People are rightly concerned that our students not feel stereotyped. We agree,” he said.
The course, which drew 25 girls when it was offered last month, was featured in a blog post on the division’s website last week.
Students will learn how to “enhance their natural beauty and express confidence” by “analyzing the shape of their faces to determine which hairstyle is most flattering (and) assessing their body shape to choose clothing styles that are the most complimentary,” the post said.
The course includes a field trip to a food and cosmetology high school classroom where they will “plan recipes, table settings, dinner music and review dinner party etiquette and polite conversation.
“The girls will spend the afternoon learning about nail care and application.”
The reaction on social media was swift.
“I’m just wondering, are you teaching boys about how to dress for their body shape and what hairstyle suits them best?” Ashley Corcoran wrote.
“Can you demonstrate a similar course for the boys that teaches such valuable, success-building, empowering, beneficial lessons? I’ll wait.”