This Tuesday, on the occasion of the international day of struggle for women’s rights, the Royal Athenaeum of Halle wished to set up a new very specific instruction. In fact, male students were asked to attend classes while standing, while girls could sit. The purpose of this approach? Denounce the inequalities that still exist between women and men. The initiative was also a small nod to the incident that took place in 2021, when Ursula Von Der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, had to remain standing during a meeting with the Turkish President. Erdogan, while Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, had been able to sit down.
If the project of this school makes sense at first glance, the realization has given way to a few hiccups. In fact, the male students have widely questioned themselves, as explained by our colleagues from the Nieuwsblad. “Why do some receive privileges and others do not?”, “What have we done to be treated differently?” Questions that the school precisely wanted to provoke but which were of course not unanimous.
On social networks, the photos of the action carried out in class are disturbing. The Vlaams belang went straight to the plate and quickly spoke of a humiliating action for the boys. A member of the far-right party even called for an investigation to be opened.