Chapter 4: Gender Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society, 9th Edition Donna M. Gollnick and Philip C. Chinn any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Male and Female Differences Through early elementary school, boys and girls have similar hormonal levels and physical development. Puberty marks the difference in hormonal levels, which control physical development. Body fat increases in girls and decreases in boys. Differences can be based on nature or by environment and culture.

Differences Based on Nature Some researchers have found differences in functioning between boys and girls in mathematical, verbal, and spatial skills. Some researchers suggest the differences are attributable to biological differences related to hormones affecting hemispheric specialization in the brain. Researchers on both sides recommend that different type of classroom activities are needed to engage boys and girls in the academic areas in which they are not performing proficiently.

Socially Constructed Differences The recreational and interpersonal differences between girls and boys are much greater than their cognitive and academic differences Gender behavior is reinforced throughout the life cycle by social processes of approval and disapproval by children’s friends and adults closest to them.

The Influence of Media on Perception of Gender Roles Television is a perpetuator of gender stereotyping. Many popular magazines portray the two sexes stereotypically. Retailers market products for the appropriate sex and reinforce stereotypical roles and expectations.

Socialization Patterns in School Educators often reinforce the stereotyped behaviors associated with males and females. Attitudes and values about appropriate gender roles are embedded in school curriculum. Children are active participants in the socialization process.

Combating Gender Stereotypes in the Classroom Teachers should ensure that classroom activities do not favor one group over another. Teachers need to pay attention to the leadership in cooperative groups to ensure gender equity. Teachers need to be aware of the gender and ethnicity of the authors being read by students.

Gender Identity Most differences are based on gender, or the cultural differences between femininity and masculinity. Gender is culturally determined and learned through socialization. Recognition of gender identity occurs unconsciously early in life and becomes a basic anchor for self-identity.

Masculinity and Femininity Masculinity is often measured by a man’s independence, assertiveness, and leadership. Femininity is stereotypically characterized as emotional, dependent, and nurturing. Most cultures value masculinity over femininity. Many people do not fit the stereotypical profile associated with their sex.

Transgender Identity Gender identity in some cultures and societies is not limited to male and female. Some individuals are born with the biology of one sex, but think and behave like the other sex. When someone’s identity, appearance, or behavior fall outside the conventional gender norms, they are described as transgender.

Influence of Ethnicity and Religion Gender identity is influenced by a family’s ethnicity, class, and religion. Religions generally recognize and include masculine and feminine expectations as part of their doctrines. Students with physical disabilities may face challenges at meeting the traditional expectations for masculinity and femininity as well.

Struggles for Gender Equity Most major changes in society do not occur quickly or quietly. The desire for independence and equal rights were the fuel that fired the struggle for gender equity.

The Early Struggles Since the mid-nineteenth century, women’s groups have continued to struggle for equality. Initial struggles involved the rights to divorce, to control property, to speak in public, and to vote. Opponents to the feminist movement included men and women—many believed a woman’s responsibilities were to be a good wife and mother.

The Second Wave The most significant advances occurred in the 1960s as feminists gained the support of more women and men, developing out of the civil rights movement. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 required the same pay for the same job for men and women. Title VII, approved in 1964, prohibited discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or sex.

Today’s Promises and Challenges Equal rights for women, men, gays, and lesbians continue to be contested. Feminists fight for equality in jobs, pay, schooling, responsibilities in the home, and the nation’s laws. Much has been accomplished over the past four decades, but inequality continues to exist.

The Cost of Sexism and Gender Discrimination Sexism is a belief that men are superior to women and should dominate them in the home and at work. Some women, even today, are encouraged to advance themselves through marriage rather than through their own achievement and independence. Gender discrimination not only is practiced by individuals but also has been institutionalized in policies, laws, rules, and precedents in society.

Jobs The sexual division of labor has historically been fairly rigid. The gap between the participation of men and women in high prestige professions has narrowed, but not been eliminated. Educators need to consider strategies to equalize the number of males and females pursuing the fields in which they currently have limited representation.

Income Both women and men will earn higher incomes with increasing education. Women typically earn less (67%) than men when their educations are equal. Educators will need to work more effectively with parents and the community to eliminate the high dropout rates and encourage college attendance.

Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that has long existed in the workplace. The harassment can be verbal, visual, or physical. Sexual harassment can be very damaging to its victims, having an impact on their emotions, subsequent behavior, and academic performance Educators are beginning to feel legal pressures to stop sexual harassment of students.

Bringing Equality to the Classroom and Beyond Education is key to upward mobility and financial security in adulthood. Girls appear to take better advantage of education than their male peers. Teachers can develop classroom environments that take advantage of the learning styles of boys and girls.

Student admissions Student treatment Personnel employment Title IX Student admissions Student treatment Personnel employment Title IX addresses discriminatory practices on the basis of gender in three key areas

Improving Academic Performance The real gap in achievement in the United States is not related to gender, but rather to race and ethnicity. Educators should be developing strategies for improving the academic achievement of all students. Different approaches to teaching, including technology integration, may help improve academic performance of girls and boys.

Nonsexist Education Nonsexist education focuses on: differences that exist between the genders how and why such inequities are portrayed and instructional materials that provide a more balanced view of the roles and contributions of the two sexes

Nonsexist Education Interact with students Avoid “boy crisis” Portray both genders in curricula Incorporate student voices Interact with students Learn together Avoid “boy crisis”

Single-Sex Education Single-sex schools focus on the skill development of young women or men by using their unique learning styles and cultural experiences. Research shows that students in single-sex settings have higher self-esteem than their peers in coeducational settings. Little or no differences in achievement and attitudes about the academic subject have been found.

Women’s Studies Programs Women’s studies programs are similar to ethnic studies programs. These programs attempt to record and analyze historical and contemporary experiences of women. Courses are generally elective and include concepts of consciousness-raising and views of women as a separate group with unique needs and disadvantages in school and in society.