'Women studies' course at rural Alberta school draws intervention from province

The province willseekchanges to a new course called "womenstudies" at a ruralAlberta school, which covers topics such as hairstyles, dinner parties, recipes and interior decor.

Following some public criticism about the course, Education Minister DavidEggensaid Tuesday that officials from his office are contacting the school board that oversees the Eleanor Hall School inClyde.

The school launched the coursein February for girls in grades 6-9.

In anemailedstatement to CBC,Eggensaidgender equality is a priority fortheAlbertaNDP government.

"I understand the concerns being raised about the content of this course. Alberta Education and representatives from my office are in contact with the school board and will be seeking changes to this course immediately," saidEggenin the statement.

DavidGarbutt, acting superintendent ofPembinaHills Public Schools, said the school district has had a lot of feedback on the course and its contents will be re-evaluated. The course title likely wasn't appropriate, since it did not accurately represent what the curriculum aims to do, he said.

"The goal here, the real aim, is to help students navigate adolescence and keep their self-image and self-esteem intact,"Garbutttold CBC's Edmonton AM.

Thecurriculum ismeant to give students a "taste of cosmetology, some of our technology and media studies that are available later, community care, foodand esthetics," he added.

"We're going to have the kids critically think about, you know, the expectations and media influences that teens face,"Garbuttsaid.

AlisonPoste, an organizer of the Women's Marchin Edmonton earlier this year, said she finds the coursebaffling.

"It just feels very1950s," she said, adding she wonderedwhy there wasn't an etiquette class for boys.

Postesaid it could be a symptom of a rural-urban divide, but raises the question of whether studies are properly reflecting that "women and girls are entitled to representation and every opportunity that boys and men are."

ButPostesaid girls and women everywhere are still exposed to messaging focused on appearance.

She recalled looking at some magazines recently in an Edmonton store, where oneaimed atgirls hadstories about makeup,crushes on boys andnail colours. Aboys'magazine cover had pictures of microscopes, fire trucks and police hats.

"If I'm a 12-year-old girl today, what's the message that I'm getting? Is it more important to have pretty nails or is it more important to get an education?"

• Alberta MLA SandraJansenlatest in long string of female politicians to face abuse
• Two private schools won't complywith AlbertaLGBTQpolicy, says pastor

Women's studies at post-secondary institutions generally explore social and career equality for women, as well as teach history such as suffrage and feminism movements.