COMENIUS

RESULTS OF THE SURVEY „GENDER ROLE STEREOTYPES AND THE ATTITUDES OF THE STUDENTS TOWARDS THEM”
CONCLUSIONS – POLAND

3. Your mother's highest degree of education
Almost all the mothers of Polish respondents have at least upper secondary education; more Polish mothers have higher or postgraduate education; in the group of the best educated women- mothers of the respondents,  there is almost the biggest number of them, which shows that women in Poland appreciate higher education and they often combine responsible jobs with their household chores.  It can be a significant fact that Polish respondents , contrary to French or Norwegian ones, are interested in their mothers’ education. Perhaps it’s a value appreciated in the family, the one that is talked about.

4. Your father's highest degree of education
Almost all the fathers of Polish respondents have at least upper secondary education; they are the most numerous group with this status among the fathers of the respondents.  Higher education   is less common , perhaps  because the   completion of   a vocational or   technical school   secures permanent employment   which enables them to provide for their families . In most countries there are more fathers with higher education than in Poland. The number of Polish students who don’t know the level of their father’s education is surprisingly big. Perhaps it’s partly because of the fact that the father  left the family and is not interested in his child, so the child has little information about him. When we compare the level of education of the women and the men, it turns out that Polish women are more involved in obtaining higher or postgraduate education.

5. Who should go on maternity leave?
Many   respondents   pointed   out that in the survey there is no   option   that   fathers and mothers   should be entitled to   parental leave   of the same length .These respondents were forced to choose the option that the right to parental leave should be granted to both parents, but mostly the mother, which must have distorted the result. According to the vast majority of Polish respondents rather mothers should go on maternity leave after childbirth, which results from the traditional lifestyle and the stereotype of “Polish Mother”, unquestioned by women.  However, most respondents, including boys, think that mothers should share maternity leave with fathers. Interestingly, Polish students, including boys, are the biggest group among all the respondents who think that parental leave should be taken mostly by fathers. Perhaps public discussions about the law, which is being currently changed,  and media education about new values of fatherhood, stimulated a desire to change things, especially as majority of future fathers have the same opinion. Or perhaps some of the students didn’t treat the survey seriously.

6. Women should not work, they should stay at home and take care of their families.
Surprisingly, a high percentage of Polish respondents are in favour of the traditionally understood role of women. Moreover, although the model of women working outside the home dominates, but the difference between the opinions of representatives of both sexes is huge – 73% of women do not agree to stay at home, whereas only 31% of men allow such a possibility, which might mean conflicting relations in future families and is a proof of unequal thinking about opportunities for full development regardless of sex. Perhaps it’s worth taking up the subject in education for partnership in the family and forming empathic attitudes towards the right of women for fulfilling their potential outside the home.  Although the extremely traditional attitudes, which discriminate women from the right to full development, are among Polish students less numerous than attitudes, which disagree with the opinion that the only destiny of a woman is to live in the family, we ought to fight prejudices and explain women’s right to self-realization through career and lifestyle choices.

7. Men should share the housework with their wives.
Answers to this question augur well for successful marriages and sound rules of coexistence in partner relationships, because the vast majority of Polish youth support sharing family responsibilities between women and men. Perhaps this is a good evidence of slow changes for the better in the lifestyle of today’s families in Poland, effectively ensuring greater respect for the equal rights granted in the family, regardless of gender. However, as many as 19% of Polish boys and only 2% of girls deny  (choose the answer “mostly disagree”) such a duty, which can mean conflicting relations in future families, because of the expectations of the majority of girls. These issues should be included in family life education programmes for schools.

8. When a woman marries, she should take her husband's last name?
The surveyed students pointed out that among the options to choose from there was not an option that a man can take his wife’s surname. Many of them thought that married couples should have the same surname, but not necessarily the husband’s one. As they were not able to choose such an option, they were forced to choose the one saying that the wife should take her husband’s surname, which might have distorted  the results. However, most probably the approval of the practice to change their maiden names for their husbands’ ones by married women results from an undisputed tradition to do so. The answer is not surprising in the light of the centuries-old practice and a lack of compelling arguments in favour of keeping their maiden names by married women, although  such practices   are taking place,   but they require   notifying   the partner first, or else, because of   the prevailing   custom, he can   be surprised by   the   decision. The answers given to this question by  the students from Spain, where the tradition is to keep their own surnames by married people, also supports this point. Nevertheless,   the percentage   of Poles   who   " disagree " and " do not know"  is   the lowest among the   countries surveyed .  14%   percent of   Polish   girls, however,   declare   disagreement ,  which could mean   a slow   change of the   tradition. It is essential to include the issue   of women's rights   to   such a decision in formal and non-formal education.

9. Gay couples should have the same rights to adopting children as other couples
The answers of the respondents to this question (except for those from Iceland, Norway and Spain) show a high level of prejudice against gay couples as far as the question of granting them adoption rights is concerned. Low score for “yes" in the case of Polish students confirms the observation of social behaviour in Poland, which predominantly is intolerant of homosexuality (26% of Polish students). Girls are more convinced about the adoption rights for gay couples (39%), only 13 % boys are for “yes”.  Low   tolerance of  overt  homosexuality as such   leads to   insensitivity   to the   inequality   of  people of  this   orientation in the light   of   the law.   Lack of consent   to adoption of children by gay couples   probably results from   traditional beliefs   and   religious considerations , as it is  at odds with   Catholic   beliefs   and the   belief that   homosexuality is   a perversion   or a   disease .  Adoption of children   by homosexual couples   is a particularly   sensitive topic   in a country  with the  traditionally   Catholic   worldview   and   defending   the traditional family   model , especially as  the view that , regardless of  the violence   experienced by   children in   their biological families, they   are   the best environment   for the children’s development, is very popular in Poland.  Students also point out that lesbian couples encounter much more tolerance than gay couples, perhaps because physical contact among women in general is culturally acceptable, while among men, apart from a handshake as a form of greeting, in fact is not.  Some students   are   of the opinion that   gay people   are fighting   for their rights   in a wrong way ,  alienating   heterosexual communities from them with their behaviour . Gay pride parades, where men present themselves in pink   thongs   or   demonstratively kiss one another,   repel many boys as contrary to the stereotype of a strong man, not showing his feelings.   Others   emphasize   the fact that   childhood   has a profound effect   on the development of   human personality , and therefore  do not agree   to adoption   of children   by homosexual couples ,  even though they   have no   objections to   the existence of   such pairs . They believe that the right of any people shouldn’t be pursued at the expense of proper development of other people.

10. In time of economic crisis, men should have priority over women to get a job.
A relatively   consistent   response   among the respondents .  The percentage of Polish students who agree to the situation is almost the highest (after Hungary)   among all  the  respondents   (23%  of them say  "yes "  -   as many as 21 % of the responses  of girls and   40 % of those of  boys)   and the lowest   of those who  disagree with it   ( 46%).  Such a position   may   be disturbing , especially as  the vast   majority of those who think so   are   men , and it means the respondents are  insensitive   to the need to   preserve   the equal right to work,   regardless of gender   and circumstances.   Inequality   in the labour market   in this area   would be   a fact   accepted by   part of the population .  It’s worth educating   young people   about   financial situation of women in   single-parent families ,  about a very ineffective system of   child support collection   in Poland   and   about   statistical data   on   lone parenthood . The fact that  21 % of girls  are convinced it is fair to deny women the right to work under such circumstances   proves that the family model,   in which the   head of the family   is a man   and he   is responsible for   finances, is still deep-rooted , which carries a risk of   the persistence of   the phenomenon of financial   dependency  of  women   of   their own choice.   Some of the students   relate   this fact   to a huge   influence   of the Catholic religion   in Polish   society .

11. Do you agree that certain jobs can only be done by men/women?
The second   highest result, after   the Hungarian one,   for „yes”   (61 %),  confirms  the  stereotypical thinking   that   social   roles   are assigned to gender   and   this justifies inequality .  Surely, a social and moral change is in progress as far as this issue is concerned,   because   33 % of Polish respondents disagree  with this opinion  (  43 % of girls and  only 22 % of boys).  This indicates that   perhaps   girls   feel   pressure   as to their   career choices   that   limits   their access to   many jobs.   In recent years,   practice   in this regard has slowly been   changing.   In Poland,   on a small   scale,   the   right to choose a   field of study   and   profession freely  is  promoted and in areas traditionally assigned to boys girls are supported  by  certain   facilities.

12. There are differences in salary due to gender discrimination.
The fact that 57% of   Polish   students agree with this opinion is justified by   the   data collected   in the   Polish   labour market,   while   26% of   Polish   students  do not see  the problem , which may be  disturbing   in the light of   the actual situation .  Especially since as   many as 42 % of boys  do not see   the problem,   they will  not  support the   aspirations of   women's circles   to   equate women with men as to   their rights   in this area.   19 % of girls  do not agree with this opinion, either.    It is worth examining   whether   this is due to reluctance   to support the   arguments   of feminist   circles   calling for   equal rights   in this matter , or  out of ignorance   as to   the actual situation .  As many as   12 % of the girls  and of   the total number   of respondents   acknowledged that they   " do not know".  The immaturity   of students as to   the   knowledge of   the near   prospect  of the  living conditions awaiting   them, is surprising.

13. Women are more suitable for professions which require taking care of others.
Polish students share the opinion of the majority of the respondents (except for Scandinavia) for "yes", so practice and beliefs in several countries are similar and they have a limiting effect on efforts to obtain equality of access to different jobs regardless of gender, or support underestimating of some jobs based on gender. Such an opinion might be dangerous because the area of ​​care, especially for aging populations of Europe, produces the labour market which men won’t enter because of prejudice, which will reduce their chances of employment. Importantly, slightly fewer young women in Poland share this view than young men, which can convince to the conclusion stated above. The students believe that such opinion results from the traditional, stereotypical female and male roles present in both the Catholic and Muslim religions.

14. An opportunity to have a career can be equally significant for women as for men?
All respondents   express similar   opinions   ( 79% of  Poles   answer "yes" ).  Very few   Polish   respondents   think differently (only   4%)   and only 5 % has no  opinion   on the matter .  The results can be treated as a positive   sign of   a relative   uniformity of   thinking among young   men and women, about the   equal   right of people,  regardless of their gender,  to   self-development in accordance with their own expectations . However,  girls show more   determination   in this regard   (perhaps it   reflects   contemporary   emancipatory   transformation   in this respect) .  A small   percentage of male   students   who disagree   with this point can be surprising , if we take into account the  belief   that   a woman should   stay at home .  Besides,   as many as 8 % of Polish respondents  - the highest percentage   among all   surveyed nationalities  – have no   opinion   on the matter.   A wise   education   can   use this fact   and convince those people to   more   egalitarian   thinking.   Some of the students   pointed out   that the   belief that  a  career is   equally important   for both sexes   does not necessarily mean real   equality   in this regard.

15. It is possible to successfully combine the role of mother and a career
Answers "yes"   given by  83%percent  of  Polish students and   a strong belief   of all the surveyed  students  in the possibility of   a successful combination of   the role of a mother   and a career  can  be optimistic ,  but only partially .  Certainly,   many examples of   women   successfully combining these two roles make you convinced of the validity of the opinion .  However, hardly anyone   wants to know   at what price the roles can be combined.   Young   people   are not very   interested in politics   in   its pro-family aspect   and   supporting women   in   the reconciliation of  the role of a  mother and  a  worker , that’s why they don’t delve into  the   difficulty   of   such combination.
Among   the countries that took part in the survey there are such ones where the percentage of people who believe in a   possibility of   a successful combining of the two roles is even   higher.   It's worth talking   to  the  partners   about the reasons for giving  a  positive answer   by   the respondents.   What   determines the   highest   percentage   of positive   assessments?   What good   legislative   practices are there, what kind of   social life   organization and what other elements   affect a   successful   combination of the role of   a mother   and a career ?

16. Teachers expect different behaviour and attitudes from male and female students
The vast majority of   Polish   students   see   different treatment of   male and female   students   by   teachers.   This result   is the highest of all the results of   students   from different countries    -   78%.   Alarmingly   high percentage of answers "yes"   may indicate   the phenomenon of   gender discrimination .  Teachers   are generally not   aware of   the problem,   they do not realize   certain  mechanisms,   discriminatory  for one of the  genders, which are   traditionally   copied at school.   It is worth mentioning   that girls   experience   this phenomenon   much   more often   (88%  of girls  state this ).  Due to the   obligation   of the school   to counter  all kinds of  discrimination , the  problem  requires a  serious discussion at a project meeting.   It might be interesting to look into the experience of the Spanish students, the vast majority of whom   responded   that   the phenomenon is not observed in their schools  -  as many as 72%).  The result for   Polish students   indicates   that messages   addressed by teachers to students  may  reproduce  the  stereotypes   of different roles   assigned to   women and men, which are socially   approved   by  the  older   generation of Polish people .  It would be important   to find out   in which aspects   differences   in treatment of   students by   teachers of   both sexes   are significant   for the students .  Analysis   of this phenomenon   may   show that there is   a need to   raise the awareness of   Polish   teachers   as to egalitarian thinking   in relations   with students .  Some of the students   draw attention   to the fact that   certain   teachers   favour   one   gender over the other - female   teachers   often   have   favourite male students  and male teachers favourite female  students .  Teachers also often   assume that women   are   more gifted   in   the humanities ,  and men   in   subjects   requiring   spatial imagination   or   mathematical ability , which results in  a lack of support   for people with   talents   and interests   different from   the stereotype .  Other students   point out that   negative behaviour of   boys   is   punished   more severely   than similar   behaviour of   girls,   and even the   curriculum   for the subject called education   for family life   favours   girls ,  since it   hardly   contains any topics  which would  develop   and   support   young men.

17. If one gender is subject to discrimination from the opposite sex at your school - what gender?
A very high   percentage ( 72%) of  Polish   students   tend to disagree   with   the   fact   that there exists   discrimination of one gender by the other at school .  This might mean that the principles of equality are rather   respected   in relations   among students .  This is an area   where   further research   should  be carried out to find out  whether   this response   results from a good  practice in  social life   of young   Polish men and women ,  or simply   there is no   sensitivity to   discriminatory   phenomena or   behaviour .  Insensitivity to   discriminatory   behaviour  towards girls  may result from training them   for   obedience ,  excessive   politeness   at the expense of   assertiveness, which is still widespread   in the dominant   model   of social education .  It’s worth   examining   the awareness   of students of both genders   as to   what they consider   signs of   cross- gender discrimination, and  which behaviours that in fact are discriminatory, are   justified by   social   approval.   The question is whether  such  sensitivity is  worth forming  and with what   intention.   A high percentage of Polish students that have no opinion   on   such important   issues   can   prove the   low sensitivity   of Polish students   to   discriminatory   behaviour   in relations   of  people of the  opposite sexes .
A   small group of  female  respondents ( 10%)  notice discrimination   of only girls   or only boys by the opposite sexes.  34% of girls think that both sexes are discriminated but in different areas.  Boys themselves   notice discrimination   of only girls by boys in a comparable percentage as girls but   consider it   occurring   five times more likely   than   discrimination of only boys   by girls . Only 10% of boys think that both genders are discriminated but in different areas.  The result  is  worth showing in form tutor periods , because many  boys   believe   that girls   underestimate the problem   of discrimination of boys   by   their gender .  The   result seems to contradict the   stereotype .

18. Women and men should have equal opportunities to the same level of education
Similar   answers of all the respondents to this   question   prove   similar   aspirations of   young people   in Europe   today ,  valuing   the right to education regardless of gender .  This result  for Polish students  may   in   fact   be treated as an introduction to   a debate  on  what conditions must   be   fulfilled so that the   opportunities   will really be equal.   The percentage of answers “no” or “I don’t know” for Polish respondents is the highest   among all the respondents , though it is  only 2%  and  3 % respectively. However, it  indicates   that  some kind of  education is required in this aspect   to   popularize   egalitarian   thinking.

19 Who do you think can lead a country the best?
Although  the most   egalitarian   thinking   prevails   among   Polish young people   (61 %),   the percentage is the lowest among all the partner countries.   Polish girls are more advanced  in egalitarian  thinking than boys .  The percentage of Polish students expressing the belief  that men are better at governing the country than women, was  the highest   among all the respondents ,  which   demonstrates the strength   of the traditional model   of Polish social life  in thinking about politics,  where women   are by definition   excluded from participation   in   governance .  However, interestingly enough,   among those who think that   women   would do it   better than men , the percentage of  Polish   young people were almost the highest as well. Some of the students analysing the results expressed the opinion that   this is due to   the belief   that women are more   amicably  disposed  and are more   willing   to compromise ,  and these are   qualities of a good   politician.   We need to work  with our students  on   forming  more  egalitarian   thinking in these areas.

20. Men and women are treated equally in society
The  percentage of Polish students thinking  that men and   women are   treated equally   in society is fairly low, as against the percentages of students from other countries. Significantly smaller percentage of girls (about half of that of boys)   believe in the existence of   egalitarian practice   in Polish society ,  which can be a proof of   experienced   or   observed   discrimination against women in this aspect.   Similarly ,  more girls than boys   does not agree   with the opinion of   equal treatment for men  and women   in Polish society.   Surprisingly, as   many as 7 % of Polish students, which is  the highest   result   among the partner countries,   answer  "do not know ".  This raises the   question whether Polish students   are not   sensitive   to this issue ,  not interested in   it  or  they just   do not care ?
The lowest   percentage of Polish students who strongly believe that men and women are treated equally in our society and quite low of those who rather agree with the opinion, as   against the percentages of students from the other countries ,  is a proof that they are aware of bad practice as to gender equality in social life   in Poland.   However,   almost  as many as  the other half  of Polish students  do not believe so , which demonstrates  extremely   divergent judgements of this fact   by   young   Poles .  It is likely   that older   Polish   citizens   would give similar   responses   to this question , due to the  low awareness of   women as far as equal treatment in society is concerned .  There is a   need for   education   of Polish young people to develop   their   awareness of   gender mainstreaming   and   social   benefits  from  real   respect for   the principle of equality   in society.

21. Men and women have equal opportunities to participate in social and cultural activities (sports, music etc.)
Very positive responses of Polish students, comparable to the responses of young people from other surveyed countries, indicate that in the area of social and cultural activities there is no discrimination based on gender in our country, which can be surprising in the light of the answers to the previous question. Perhaps the answer to this question rather concerned various aspects of cultural life than social life. Anyway, the question concerned only equal chances to participate in cultural and social life, so perhaps it would be worth investigating other aspects of the problem to make sure whether or not there are some aspects of unequal treatment for men and women in this area.

22. I feel superior to the opposite gender?
The percentage of Polish students answering “yes” was almost the highest (after the Hungarian one) in the partner group. It is intriguing that Polish women feel superior to men more often that the other way round. The percentages of male and female students who disagree with such an opinion also confirm this fact. It seems necessary to examine what this feeling is based on. Nevertheless, the results seem to suggest that the majority of Polish students (over half of the respondents) do not feel superior to the opposite gender. However, 33% of the respondents confirm such belief, whereas 12% have no opinion, which means that almost comparable group of students may find it obvious that one gender dominates the other and they may unconsciously reproduce discriminatory  practices towards the opposite gender. Comparing this result with the answer to question 17 seems to confirm the fact that in Polish schools many discriminatory practices based on gender are not considered discriminatory but instead they are treated like proper  ways of starting a relationship with representatives of the opposite gender, legitimized by tradition.
Surely, in our school we should examine in more detail  what   builds   the sense of   superiority over   the opposite sex   and what   issues  it  concerns, and   whether it   affects   discriminatory   behaviours and if so, how  ; perhaps a programme of social prevention in this aspect would be desirable to prevent students from experiencing discrimination or violence. We ought to lay emphasis on complementarity and cooperation of genders, not a war.

23. Gay people face prejudice in my country
Almost the highest percentage of students answering “yes”, only 7 % of Polish students said “no”. Both in France, which  is currently under   social debate   on changing   legislation relating to   the rights of homosexuals, and in Poland , where  there has been a   high level of   homophobia and   also there are public discussions on the proposed   legal changes   regarding   gay people , students of both genders are realistically aware of the existing prejudices against homosexuals. We do not know what attitude towards the prejudices the respondents adopt.

24. Gay couples should have the same rights to marriage as other couples
The percentage of Polish students who agree with the point is the lowest in the partnership, also, the percentage of those who disagree is the highest.
High percentages of answers confirming the rights of homosexuals to marry concern the countries, where such legislation already exists or is being constituted. The beliefs expressed by the students from these countries describe existing practice or reflect higher than in Poland respect for human rights. The percentage of Polish students expressing intolerance of homosexuals in this aspect  is quite high (53% of respondents), which may result from extreme intolerance of homosexuality, present in public discourse, and the authority of the Catholic church, the vast majority of whose representatives also display intolerance of this sexual orientation and the rights of such people.
Despite the provisions about anti-discrimination and respect for human rights in the curriculum and in many of the educational programmes, the Polish education doesn’t have systemic solutions which can change attitudes towards this phenomenon.

25. Gay people are more likely to be subject to hate crime or violence
The highest percentage of Polish respondents (76%) who are convinced that it is homosexuals who are more likely to be victims of hate crime or violence may be the result of observations of such a behavior. It would be useful to look into the attitudes of students towards this fact.

26. Which of these groups are most likely to be subject to violence - make a prioritized list (1 is most likely)

27. Teenage boys
56% of Polish students noticed a high risk of violence against teenage boys, although the results in the surveyed group are very diverse. The belief is similar among Polish boys and girls, it is  therefore worth diagnosing   what situations they associate   with experiencing   violence. The reasons for very high percentage of students from Iceland, Norway and Greece who share the same opinion might be very interesting, too. Vague, ambiguous questions might be the reason. Perhaps some of the surveyed students focused only on gender based violence, while others thought about violence as such, regardless of the gender of the offender   and   the victim. Taking into account violence of boys against boys, which is likely to be on quite a high level in all countries, could be a reason for such a high result for boys being at risk of violence.  

28. Teenage girls
As many as   72 % of young  Polish men and women  are of the opinion  that   teenage   women   are at a high   risk of being victims of violence.  More girls than boys among   Polish   students  share  this view .

29. Adult men
Adult men are the group   least   exposed   to violence.   Students   think that   is because of   the physical   strength   of men .

30. Adult women
According to Polish students adult women are less exposed to violence than teenagers of both sexes. Probably their opinion results from observations they make in their own surroundings; it could also represent low sensitivity to recognize various discriminatory situations as discrimination or violent one as violence. As many as 26% of Polish students claim that adult women are the group least exposed to violence, which may be very disquieting. In the light of the situation  of women   in the family   and society , both observed in reality and known from the statistics, it is just not true. Even women themselves, in a slightly higher percentage than men, are of this opinion.
It is worth discussing in the project partnership, why, in the opinion of the surveyed students from Norway and Iceland, adult women are at the lowest risk of violence and if the reasons are the same  as for 26% of Polish students.

x Classify these European countries in gender equality. 1= the most respectful on equality, 9= the least on equality
The  opinions of   Poles and   representatives of other   countries   on  respecting  the principles of   equality   in our country   are very   divided . According to the opinions of students from other countries,  the observance of the principles of equality in Poland doesn’t deserve a high rating. Only in the eyes of some of us (in the opinion of 14% of Polish students we are on the first place in this respect) we are truly respectful of this principle. The  results of the  survey indicate   that   we are considered   slightly below average   when it comes to  the respecting of  the principles of equality .  Icelandic ,  Greek   and Spanish   students   see us   even as low as on the second position before last . According to our students, France is the most respectful of the principles of equality, followed by Norway. It would be interesting to find out how much their judgment was influenced by the slogans of the French Revolution, well-known in Poland from history lessons. It is puzzling that among countries deserving the last position in that list, most Polish students choose Spain but the second numerous group pointed out Poland.  It would be interesting   to check   why there are   such large discrepancies   among our students   in the assessment of   compliance with   the principles of equality   in our country.