Racism and sexism are two of the many issues that unfortunately continue to remain prevalent in today’s society. As part of our ‘Values: Self, Society and the Professions’ module, we were given a lecture on racism and sexism throughout history and how these issues from the past still remain prevalent to this day. It was interesting and thought-provoking to learn about various events in history motivated by these issues that took place within our own country, some of which for the very first time.

One of the stories we were told of that I had never heard before was that of Emmett Till, a young boy who’s life was taken at the hands of a racially motivated crime. When reflecting on this particular story, for a child so young to endure such a horrible act over the colour of their skin breaks my heart. Furthermore, it hurts to think that the children of this generation will continue to grow in a society in which racism continues to be present.

Sexism and patriarchy were other issues that were discussed in the lecture. When looking back on the Women’s Suffrage movement, a topic that I had previously learnt about during my time at school, it shocked me to see that, regardless of the tireless campaigning put in with the aim of achieving equal voting rights for women, sexism and patriarchy continue to be issues that are still prevalent in this modern day and age. The gender pay gap, for example, is an issue that remains at large, whereby women are working lower paid jobs and/or working less hours compared to men.

It shocks me that, in a world advancing with technology for example, racism and sexism are issues that are still holding us back in the past and are preventing us from progressing on-wards. As a future primary school teacher, from this lecture, I left with my belief strengthened that the classroom should be a happy and safe environment for each and every child, free of racism, sexism, and prejudice.