Introduction
There is a big problem within the school system today of enforcing gender stereotypes. Stereotypes that say that girls aren't as good at math as boys or that boys can't read as well as girls. Whether we like it or not, teachers play a big part in enforcing these stereotypes, but we can also be part of the solution. But how? That is what we are going to explore.
Task
Your task as a future teacher to make sure that students are given a well-rounded education. In order to do that, you must be informed about how we may be unintentionally reinforcing these stereotypes and what you can do to eliminate these in your classroom.
Process
The first thing that you must do is to examine your own biases and determine the ways that you may enforce the stereotypes.
A few of the ways that we do this as teachers are:
- calling on more boys than girls
- giving boys harder tasks and questions
- expecting less from girls in certain subjects
What can we do to end this and give our students the best education possible?
- be sure to call on girls as much as boys
- have the same expectations for all students
- create a classroom library that has equal representation
- make sure to teach about influential women as well as men
Evaluation
The most important part of working to eliminate stereotyping within the classroom is reflection. We, as teachers, need to be constantly reflecting and evaluating their teaching. Once we reflect on our teaching and determine if we are truly encouraging diversity and inclusion in our classroom, we can determine if we need to adjust our teaching to make sure that our students are getting the fairest education possible.
Conclusion
The schools should not be a part of enforcing things like stereotypes, biases, and discriminations in young students, we should be part of the solution.
Credits
Created by Rachel Yutzy
Teacher Page
Resources
Kollmayer, M., Schober, B., & Spiel, C. (2018). Gender stereotypes in education: Development, consequences, and interventions. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 15(4), 361–377. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.uni.edu/10.1080/17405629.2016.1193483
McClure, L. J. (1999). Wimpy Boys and Macho Girls: Gender Equity at the Crossroads. English Journal, 88(3), 78. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.uni.edu/10.2307/821583
WILLIAMS, J. A. (2010). Learning Differences: Sex-Role Stereotyping in Single-Sex Public Education. Harvard Journal of Law & Gender, 33(2), 555–579.
Alber, R. (2017, January 27). Gender Equity in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/gender-equity-classroom-rebecca-alber