Friday, October 28, 2011

Gender and Education

Going into a teaching career, I've actually thought a lot about gender in the classroom, seeing as girls seem to always out-number the boys. We're supposed to attempting to achieve gender equality. But by, for example, separating boys and girls into different lines, or the fact that girls and boys don't compete against each other in sports, we are telling that they're different and not equal. It's a complete contradiction. I found this quote on http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/genderbias.html and it honestly shocked me!

Across the country, boys have never been in more trouble: They earn 70 percent of the D's and F's that teachers dole out. They make up two thirds of students labeled "learning disabled." They are the culprits in a whopping 9 of 10 alcohol and drug violations and the suspected perpetrators in 4 out of 5 crimes that end up in juvenile court. They account for 80 percent of high school dropouts and attention deficit disorder diagnoses. (Mulrine, 2001)


Clearly, boys are falling behind girls as they make they way through the education system. Although, I think that the school system is made in favor of boys. These results show that girls are performing higher than boys, yet being a girl is always portrayed as being a bad thing. Like how the term "throwing like a girl." is one of the biggest insults a boy can receive. I mean, I know plenty of girls that kept up with the boys in gym class and sometimes even out shined them.

Going back to disney, I found this youtube video of how Disney portrays gender roles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoU7jtJ_rdA&feature=related

The women are always sensitive, beautiful and elegant. While the men are brave and strong. I think girls have it tougher in school, especially once they get into high school. They have to worry about keeping up with the latest trends, and making sure they look "beautiful" so everyone else will like them. A boy can practically roll out of bed and come to school, but girls are expected to spend hours doing their hair and make-up. Throughout their childhood all of these movies had forced this picture into their heads of how they should look and act to live "happily ever after" when in reality, they probably will never look like that.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Sasha,
    This week I've written extended comments on your discussion. The location is listed below.

    http://tpm-fned346.blogspot.com/2011/10/talking-points-7-extended-comments.html

    ReplyDelete