This project addresses the problem of discrimination and violence towards girls in the counties of Lubaczowski and Ropczycko-Sędziszowski, in Podkarpacie. In this respect, gender stereotypes and roles continue to be common and deeply rooted. It is mainly men who have access to power – only 10.3% percent of seats on village and municipal councils are held by women. One municipal council adopted a homophobic Declaration opposing LGBT ideology, and cinema repertoires are censored by the right-wing authorities. A conservative, Catholicism-based approach to gender and sexuality is being promulgated in schools.
Under the project, educators will take part in a study visit to an experienced equality organisation and discrimination workshops, and then prepare measures in four groups for their own communities. Teenage girls from both counties will attend discrimination and herstory workshops, and attend a camp to learn assertiveness, cooperation, storytelling, and creation of discrimination prevention campaigns. The Project Promoter plans to involve the participants in creating and conducting a local social campaign aimed at breaking down gender stereotypes.
The measures will primarily benefit 24 teenage girls, but also educators. The girls will become stronger and more resilient to stereotypical content. Public awareness of the effect of gender stereotypes on girls’ and women’s decisions and lives will improve, as will the ability to react to gender-based violence and discrimination.
The project partner is the Norwegian organisation NorSensus Mediaforum, which will assist the Project Promoter for instance in preparing the campaign, and provide information on good practices for promotion of gender equality among young people.