Gender Bias

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Gender Bias in the Classroom
Presented By Regina Horton Multi-Cultural
Education Dr. Beth Christian September 19, 2005
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INTRODUCTIONGender bias is when there is a
difference made between students in the classroom
according to the gender of the student.

• This could include
• how teachers respond to students
• what subjects students are
• encouraged to study
• how textbooks represent gender roles

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• Overview
• Gender bias is alive and well in the United
  States. More often than not, males are favored in
  the classroom in various areas such as math,
  science, and sports.

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The Title IX program was established in an effort
to reduce gender bias

• Title IX, in part, states
• No person in the United States shall, on the
  basis of sex, be excluded from participation in,
  be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
  discrimination under any education program or
  activity receiving Federal financial assistance

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Gender bias is not always obvious. Often the
bias is subtle and unintentional, however, the
result is still the same damaging.
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While observing a classroom, a researcher noted
the teacher facing the boys more often and they
spent more time with the boys
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Girls became less active because the boys were
allowed to ask and have more questions answered.
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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 10 Segregation still thrives in Americas
  schools.
• Actually, females still major in subject such as
  English, French, Spanish, drama and dance.
• Males major in computer science, physics and
  engineering.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 9 Public schools are now creating single
  gender classes and schools
• Private schools often do have separate classes
  for boys and girls public schools do not.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 8 Gender related safety and health concerns
  continue to plague females.
• 100 years ago, doctors stated that an education
  caused the blood that was destined for the
  ovaries to be redirected to the brain. As a
  result, educated women were unable to bear
  children.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 7 The dropout rate is not what we think it
  is.
• Boys are more likely to repeat a grade than
  girls. Of those who do repeat a grade (boys and
  girls), the boys are more likely to drop out of
  school.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 6 For girls, gifted programs are often
  early in and early out.
• Girls begin school performing equal to or above
  boys. By graduation, the opposite is true.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 5 More needs to be done to understand and
  eliminate the gender bias that impacts males.
• Boys are stereotyped more often than girls.
  Males who show an interest in a career that is
  typically a female career are pressured on a
  social level.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 4 Classroom interaction between teachers
  and students puts males in the spotlight and
  relegates females to the sidelines.
• Teachers recognize male students more often than
  females when giving instructions. For some, this
  attention is unwanted.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 3 The math and science gender is getting
  smaller.
• During the 1990s, female students did enroll in
  the typical male subjects of science, however,
  males are still more likely to take all three
  science courses physics, chemistry and biology.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 2 Dont look now, but there is a new gender
  gap in technology.
• Boys begin school with more computer knowledge
  and skill than girls.

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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GENDER BIASES

• No. 1 Political forces are intent on reversing
  many of the gains in educational equality made
  during the past decade.
• Educational Research organizations are trying
  to discredit the last 10 years of research on
  gender bias. There is a continual reminder of
  the natural roles of men and women.
• 25 years after Title IX, the progress made needs
  to continue.

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OTHER FACTS OF GENDER BIAS

• Females receive lower grades on standardized
  tests.
• Males receive lower grades on course work.
• Schools are often bias against girls.
• Elementary aged girls have high self-esteem, but
  it lowers by junior high.
• Boys receive more attention and are called on
  more often than girls.
• Boys are encouraged to think for themselves while
  girls are not.
• Textbooks present images that are stereotypical
  of females.

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• Although boys often receive more attention in
  school, girls stay in school longer, make better
  grades, and cut class less. Girls also take more
  academic classes and are more likely to complete
  high school and go to college.

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• Our schools assure that girls are made aware
  that they are unequal to boys. As educators, we
  must be aware of what these biases are and ensure
  they will end.

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Treatment of all students, regardless of race or
gender, should be equal.
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WEB SITE 1

• It doesnt have to be boys vs. girls. Creating
  gender equality in the classroom.
• http//www.atpe.org/TeacherToolbag/gender.htm

Did not state the source of the
article Information came from the early
1990s Stated that girls fell behind in the
typical boy subjects such as mach the
science Suggested that boys were experiencing
gender bias, not girls
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WEB SITE 2

• Gender Bias in Education.
• http//www.educhange.org/multicultural/papers/gen
  derbias.html

Did not state the source of the
article Included information ranging from
1990-2001 Stated that girls have no doubt of
their unequal treatment
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WEB SITE 3

• Education expert Classroom gender bias
  persists.
• http//www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/96/4.25.96/
  gender.html

The source of information was in a newspaper
article Published in 1996gender bias is not a
new concept Gave information of treatment from
teachers Stated the participation level of
students was based on their unequal attention
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WEB SITE 4

• Gender Bias in Education.
• http//www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/a
  i_2602000263

The source of information is from an
encyclopedia article The information is
recentpublished in 2002 Gave the basic
definition of Gender Bias Stated that although
females experience more bias in school, they out
perform their male peers
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WEB SITE 5

• Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972.
• http//www.dol.gov.oasam/regs/statutes/titleix.htm
  .
• Stated the guidelines provided for the Title IX
  Amendment

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Bibliography

• It doesnt have to be boys vs. girls. Creating
  gender equality in the classroom.
  http//www.atpe.org/TeachersToolbag/gender.htm.
• Chapman, Amanda. Gender Bias in Education.
  http//www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/gende
  rbias.html.
• Goetz, Jill. Education expert Classroom gender
  bias persists. Cornell Chronicle. 1996 April
  25. http//www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/96/4.25
  .96/gender.html.
• Sadker, David. Gender Equality Still Knocking
  at the Classroom Door. 1999.
  http//www.sadker.org/eq-leader.htm.
• Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
• http//www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/titleix.ht
  m
• Woodward, A. Gender Bias in Education. Gale
  Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence.
  http//www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2602/ai
  _2602000263.