Gender Differences in Education

1. Gender Differences in Education What books do boys and girls both want to read?

2. Do boys read girls’ books? • Usually boys will not read girls’ books, or if they are reading them then they may just not be confessing it. Logsdon (2004)

3. Do girls read boys’ books? • Usually girls will read boys’ books, but are more likely to read the girly books.

4. How do you choose books for your classroom that appeal to both genders? • Girls usually like mystery/suspense, romance, and realistic fiction. Logsdon(2004) • Boys usually like action/adventure, fantasy and mystery /suspense. Logsdon(2004) • Most students believe that some books are gender specific.

5. What is a girly book? Books that are about: Shopping, Babysitting, Makeup, Romance, and Princesses.

6. What is a boyish book? • Books about: Sports, Fighting, Hunting, Weapons, and Gore.

7. Conclusion • Stay away from books that are solely about one of the gender specific subjects and choose books like: Among the Hidden, Among the Imposters, Among the Betrayed, Holes, Cirque du Freak, the Giver, the Harry Potter series, Zach’s Lie, and The Series of Unfortunate Events.

8. Do boys attract more of the teacher’s attention than girls in coeducational classrooms? • According to Dale Spender in her book call “Invisible Women” this is widely demonstrated.

9. Does single sex schooling have an effect on students? • Being placed in a single-sex class leads to girls’ greater confidence about their math ability. (Rowe, 1988, p180). • Boys do better in coeducational classes.

10. Overall, self-concept scores were higher for female and male students attending coeducational classes than for those in single-sex classes.

11. According to the attitude questionnaire teachers agreed that students were happier being in a coeducational school, but felt that girls were disadvantaged in certain school subjects, such as mathematics, science and computer studies, by being in coeducational classes.

12. 63% of female high school graduates enrolled in college. 38% of female medical degrees earned. 43% of females earned law degrees. 38% of females earned dental degrees. 43% of female high school graduates enrolled in college. 9%of female medical degrees earned. 7% of females earned law degrees. 1% of females earned dental degrees. Are times changing for females?1994 1972

13. Is there still gender bias in schools today? • Yes, girls are still the silent majority in the classroom. Kaywell, Whiteley, Stevens, (2004). • Receive less attention, are called on less frequently, and are asked less challenging questions.

14. Does society still place greater value on the “traditional male role?” • Boys who want to have what is stereotyped as a woman’s job are not socially supported, but woman who want what is stereotyped as a man’s job can usually expect some support. Kaywell, Whiteley, Stevens, (2004).

15. Are there boys who want to read girls books, but don’t because they do not want to be ridiculed? • If a boy wants to read a romance novel he is usually harassed by his peers. • If a girl want to read a novel about a sport she is free to do this with out any harassment.

16. Could the way that society portrays stereotypical gender biases be the reason boys are not choosing to read the girly books? • Yes, so incorporate female protagonists that appeal to the male readers. • Encourage students to read outside of their gender zone.

17. Novels that can be read in the classroom that may shed a different light on stereotypical gender ideas: • I Am Not Ester by Fleur Beale • Sliding into Home by Dori Hillestad Butler • A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly • Parvana’s Journey by Devorah Ellis • A Shooting Star by Sheila Solomon Klass • Uncommon Faith by Trudy Krishner