Speak Up! by Chae Eun SON https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z A safe place to freely express and release negative past experiences which may have been caused due to being discriminated as a female, confining stereotypes and a patriarchal society. Reminder: Padlets are anonymous, therefore your identity will not be revealed to the audience or creator! en-us 2020-09-16 15:26:37 UTC 2025-12-22 23:21:52 UTC hello@padlet.com Here are some questions to guide your responses! 19sonc2 https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/752026595 - Have you personally experienced (or heard of) discrimination due to your gender in Hong Kong? This can be in the workplace or during your normal daily lives. If you have, how did you handle the situation? 
- How did this affect and what were some consequences of this discrimination to your personal wellbeing?
- Do you think your gender has ever limited the opportunities you have access to in Hong Kong?
- Are you satisfied with gender equality in Hong Kong? Do you think the government advocates and addresses the issue in a beneficial and effective way?
- Focusing on ESF specifically, do you think the organisation tackles the issue of gender inequality in a successful way? If not, why so?
- Do you believe that ESF rules and regulations are fair to all genders, such as the maternity leave guidelines? 
- In your opinion, is the ratio of female to male staff distributed equally? 

]]> 2020-09-16 15:29:36 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/752026595 IMPORTANT! 19sonc2 https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/752032011 This padlet is not only restricted to  women sharing their experiences. Men are also welcomed to share any experiences of them either witnessing discrimination or even when they themselves have discriminated against women. ]]> 2020-09-16 15:30:51 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/752032011 Unfair Paternity Policy https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754473301 The maternity and paternity policies are clearly unequal. This discriminates against women as it reinforces dated gender stereotypes that the woman must be the primary caregiver to children. I would like to see a 'family leave' policy which would benefit all staff, male and female. This is a problem in ESF and across Hong Kong.]]> 2020-09-17 08:18:38 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754473301 As a new staff member and new resident in Hong Kong, I have not experienced any problems regarding discrimination against women. https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754509198 2020-09-17 08:39:45 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754509198 I think one of the biggest issues in HK (and worldwide) is intersectionality. Here, this is seen in attitudes towards the domestic helper workforce - helpers are often doubly discriminated against in HK because of their gender AND because of their race/ethnicity/nationality. This is something the HK govt should address (although I worry that they are part of the problem - just look at Immigration Tower and the laborious process that domestic helpers have to go through there when renewing their visas...ironically, that's a living, breathing example of this issue). fcrouch https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754694589 2020-09-17 10:54:44 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754694589 Male to female staff ratio among teaching staff in the ESF is OK - where it goes pear shaped is when you look at Principal level, esp in secondary schools. I can remember only one female secondary Principal in my many years in ESF. fcrouch https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754702918 2020-09-17 11:01:26 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/754702918 Leave men alone please. AvaEdD https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/755755730 Men have just as much of a right to speak as women do.  This padlet should not assume that men are discriminatory and indeed this appears to stereotyping men! Where is their voice? Let them speak too! This is a fair society after all.  It's ridiculous to assume this is a patriarchal society - we have a female leader of Hong Kong and During 2001/02 to 2019/20, the percentage shares of female teachers were higher than those of male teachers for kindergartens, primary schools and secondary day schools.  Men are more likely to be discriminated against by divorce courts and women generally receive custody over fathers.  Women outlive men and men are encouraged to be "Strong" whilst women are encouraged to seek help and support.  Hypocritical.]]> 2020-09-17 15:39:25 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/755755730 Equity over Equality nicholass1_1 https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/761493183 "Equality focuses on creating the same starting line for everyone. Equity has the goal of providing everyone with the full range of opportunities and benefits – the same finish line."(YWCA Calgary, 2019). 
My stance on any discrimination is we need to look at everyones situation and if historically there has been discrimination we have to adopt a system of equity, as not everyone has been given access to the same resources or opportunities so this balance needs to be restored or encouraged so everyone has an equal chance of making a difference to their own lives. For women this was not always the case because laws treated them as a 2nd class citizen, with right's to vote, access to education and then job opportunities. This is evened out in a lot of countries and industries, but is not balanced yet. 
But I also think this applies to both men and women  so we need to make sure the discussion is about gender discrimination, rather than just focusing on women's rights. 
I feel like there is still a glass ceiling for women in certain industries, but in the same hand there are still stereotypes that negatively impact on men making choices to be stay at home father. 
The Divorce system was  more in favour  of men in the past in terms of being able to file, being financially secure to even consider divorce. This is no longer the case in most law systems, however men are now having to fight for any kind of custody, with the favour often falling more towards women gaining more full custody cases. 

My experience in Hong Kong and in ESF has been quite positive in terms of how I've been treated as a women and I have not felt any restrictions in ESF of HK  in terms of employment opportunities. I do agree that after VP positions it does get a bit thin in terms of female principals. 

I do think that people still have a stereotype and perception of women in senior positions as being; Hard, Power Hungry, Uncaring and Selfish for being focused on their career. ]]> 2020-09-20 03:12:02 UTC https://padlet.com/19sonc2/tdc5q1t65jgi0c9z/wish/761493183