In the framework of the 8M Commemoration: UC Education presents Guides on Gender Approach

The guides are made available by the UC Education Gender Subdirectorate to the entire community as essential material for building more just, inclusive, and violence-free educational spaces. 

"Placing Uncomfortable Conversations" was the name of the panel discussion with which UC Education, in conjunction with the Faculty's Gender Sub-directorate, commemorated International Women's Day (March 6) on March 8. 

The meeting was attended by Martín de la Sotta, executive director of Chile Needs ESI; Carolina Muñoz, academic at the Faculty of Government of the University of Chilee; Mariela Infante, UN Women coordinator; and Valentina Errázuriz, UC Education professor, who moderated the conversation. 

The Dean of the Faculty, Alejandro Carrasco, emphasized that March 8th commemorates a historic event, but at its core, it is about "renewing the commitment to achieving an egalitarian society between men and women, free from discrimination, exclusion, and violence against women." 

He also added that while progress has been made as a country, a university, and a faculty, there is still much room for improvement, and that is why commemorating this date is so important. He also indicated that the challenge for the Faculty of Education is twofold: "It is external because we must contribute to transforming the school system, a place where discrimination, exclusion, and violence are also fostered; they are transmitted and reproduced through pedagogical practices and school interactions. And it is also an internal challenge, within our organization, where we must continue to identify and eliminate these practices," he noted.

Guides for building more equitable educational spaces 

During the event, the Deputy Director of Gender Education at UC Ana Luisa Muñoz She explained that along with gathering "to commemorate International Women's Day, understanding that we are remembering a historic and dramatic event, not celebrating it, we are also launching four guides on gender issues." These guides correspond to a FONDEDOC 2024-funded project, "Mapping Gender for Initial Teacher Training," and are made available by the UC Education Gender Subdirectorate to the entire community, as essential material for building more just, inclusive, and violence-free educational spaces. 

The four guides are divided into “Gender approach tofor teachers”; “Guidelines for incidents of sexual, gender-based violence and discrimination at the UC”; “Non-sexist communication” and “Key concepts on gender”, and can be reviewed at this link. 

Muñoz emphasized that this sub-directorate, which was created just over a year ago, has as its main focus training in gender issues. Therefore, in addition to launching the guides, "for the first time in the history of this Faculty, a course on gender and intersectionality will be taught at the undergraduate level. Our society is undergoing a re-learning process on gender issues, from how we relate to how we build our emotional bonds. Therefore, responsibility in learning about gender is important." 

The activity also included a batucada by a group of students from Pedagogy in Physical Education and Health, and the presentation of the feminist singer and activist Pajarita Cantora.