Sexism at School

1195 Words3 Pages

If someone was to type “define: sexism” into Google, the first definition that would appear would be “sexism: prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex” (Google.ca). However, that definition given is demonstrating sexism itself by stating that it is “typically against women”. Sexism is something that is still common in the world today, and is demonstrated towards both women and men. Many teachers act in ways, not always intentional, that contribute to sexism. It is important for teachers to recognize that sexism is something that still happens to both men and women and that anti-oppressive educational practice should be used in order to benefit all students in the classroom, regardless of their gender.
Throughout my schooling experiences, I was someone who experienced sexism first hand. As a child, it was common for me to be labelled as a “tom boy”, which by definition means “an energetic, sometimes boisterous girl whose behaviour and pursuits, especially in games and sports, are considered more typical of boys than girls” (Dictionary.com). I was not considered a “typical little girl”. My three closest friends were boys. I enjoyed climbing trees, building forts, and playing with Lego and pirate ships. I cut my hair because long hair was a nuisance, I did not wear dresses, I hated the colour pink, and my career choice consisted of wanting to be a “house painter”, rather than a princess. However, who makes these definitions about what a “typical little girl” should look and act like? Why was it made possible for people to tell me that I was not being a “proper girl”? Sexism is a common oppressive behaviour that people demonstrated. I have chosen to research sexism not only because o...

... middle of paper ...

... Sex Roles, 1. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://link.springer.com.libproxy.uregina.ca:2048/article/10.1007%2Fs11199-006-9161- 5/fulltext.html
Johansson, T. (1996). Gendered Spaces: The Gym Culture And The Construction Of Gender. Young, 4(3), 32-47. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://you.sagepub.com.libproxy.uregina.ca
Mansome2012 - YouTube. (n.d.).YouTube. Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l60Y450vwTM
Sadker, M., & Sadker, D. (1986). Sexism in the Classroom: From Grade School to Graduate School. JSTOR, 67. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/20403143?uid=3739472&uid=2&uid=3737720& uid=4&
Shellenbarger, T. (1993). Eliminating Sexism In The Classroom. Nurse Educator, 18(1), 17-20. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.libproxy.uregina.ca:2048/sp-3.10.0b/

Show More
Related

  • Feminism And Gender Equality In The 1990's

    2191 Words  | 5 Pages

    Blatantly sexist laws and practices are slowly being eliminated while social perceptions of "women's roles" continue to stagnate and even degrade back to traditional ideals. It is these social perceptions that challenge the evolution of women as equal on all levels. In this study, I will argue that subtle and blatant sexism continues to exist throughout educational, economic, professional and legal arenas.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Sexism In Barry's Guys Vs. Men

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most accepted definition of sexism is a gender based bigotry; women earning only seventy percent the amount of men for the same job, or men serving sixty-three percent longer

    Read More

  • Little Girls Or Little Women The Disney Princess Effect Analysis

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article, “Little Girls or Little Women: The Disney Princess Affect”, Stephanie Hanes shows the influential impact that young girls, and youth in general, are experiencing in today’s society. This article goes in depth on the issues that impressionable minds experience and how they are reacting as a result. “Depth of gender guidelines” has been introduced to youth all around the world making it apparent that to be a girl, you have to fit the requirements. Is making guidelines of how you should act and look as a gender going too far?

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Sociologist And The Movie Man

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gerry Garibaldi, a high school teacher and Michael Kimmel, a professor of sociology both explain how the consequences of the feminism movement are harming boys in school and later in life. Kimmel and Garibaldi present their views on the gender education problems in their articles “How The Schools Shortchange Boys” and “A War Against Boys”. Both make passionate arguments and prove that boys are at a disadvantage in modern feminized classrooms. Kimmel’s arguments about the problems boys face in the American educational system are more convincing than Garibaldi’s, because his style of argumentation is more objective, supported by more statistics, and provides unbiased restatement of opposing views.

    Read More

  • Sexism in The Work Place

    1273 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sexism is much like racism in a sense that it is the unequal treatment of individuals based on an ascribed characteristic; in this case, their gender. Sexism is directly related to patriarchy, the system in which males dominate females in most spheres of life (Thompson 300-301.)

    Read More

  • Institutionalized Sexism in Academia: Real or Perceived

    2859 Words  | 6 Pages

    Introduction: For this research proposal, I will study the effects of perceived and actual sexism on the upward mobility of women in academia. It is clear that sexism affects women’s progress in many facets of society. The gender gap is especially prominent in time-consuming and intensive professions such as academia. This research seeks to explore the causal factors for the gender disparities in order to help develop effective solutions.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Sexism In Today's Society

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    At a young age people learned sexist ways and how to say things, but they were never told that it was sexist. But as you grow older that’s all you hear is, it’s not mail man is mail deliver or lunch lady it is actually the food server. There are also people that have been taught to not be sexist, those people tend not to be corrected that often. And one of the things that get people the most, is when people think of rolls in society that are given to those men and women. You can also see all forms of sexism being used at school, in sports, or at a job, and also toward both men and women of both past and present and how it is also a big deal in other countries.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles in Little House on the Prairie

    2315 Words  | 5 Pages

    Sadker, Myra, David Sadker, and Susan Klein. "The Issue of Gender in Elementary and Secondary Education." Review of Research in Education 17 (1991): 269. JSTOR. Web. 14 Mar. 2012.

    Read More

  • What Is Boy Problems By Ann Hulbert Summary

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Because young boys are more active they often are disciplined, while girls are often quieter and naturally become a teacher’s favorite. This causes problems because classrooms naturally become more attuned to a girl’s style of learning, leaving young boys behind in the classroom from an early age. “Boy Problems” by Ann Hulbert goes into detail over the increasing “gender educational disparity.” Hulbert gives the reader useful information about how and why men are falling behind and the increasing gender differences in education. When fixing a problem one must first realize the problem exists. Now that the problem has come to light, action must be

    Read More

  • Sexism in Society Starting at Childhood

    1268 Words  | 3 Pages

    Author and feminist Alix Kates Shulman said once: “Sexism goes so deep that at first it’s hard to see, you think it’s just reality” (McEneany). That quote sums up perfectly the way our society runs. There is no class teaching children how to act according the their gender. Yet little boys and little girls learn at a very young age what is expected of them. They get ideas about their gender roles from their parents, their school teachers and subconsciously from the toys they play with and the television shows they watch.

    Read More

  • Sexism In Workplace

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both men and women are equal, sexism is not prevalent in the workplace is one of the most common notion that one come across these days. Sexism is invisible to the majority of people in the society because it is instilled in the society so deeply that we cannot even see it and the other reason that the people feel that it does not exist as it does not affect everyone. It is not surprising that the people who do not see sexism are the people who are not affected by it, this does not mean that this is the view of men alone but women as well may share this view.

    Read More

  • Women as a Minority Group

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even after these prejudices were overcome, the education system still maintained sexism in both obvious and subtle ways. Books rein...

    Read More

  • Sexism in Language

    2513 Words  | 6 Pages

    Sexism is discrimination against a person based on their gender, especially on women. Sexism in language is the use of language which devalues members on one sex, almost always women, showing gender inequality. In the 1960/70’s there was a feminist campaign in Western Countries and a lot of research was conducted into gender inequality. The feminist campaign demanded that gender equality should be eliminated from the educational system (Shi, 2001.) The existence of sexist language is due to sexism in society and it is also related to social attitudes.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Diversity In Education

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the main issues today 's students face is the act of being given gender roles and experiencing gender bias. To further explain, "Society treats boys and girls differently and expects them to develop different gender-role identities" (87). Throughout the gender section of the book, there are several examples given on how boys and girls are divided and given gender specific roles. For instance, girls are told that “Women aren’t good at math” and boys are told “Men don’t make good nurses” (87). These stereotypes affect the thinking of the students and later become obstacles when deciding careers. One way I would promote gender equality as a teacher is by completely eliminating the use of stereotypes in my classroom. This change will be accomplished by doing group activities and assignments in the classroom which avoid gender bias. It is important for students to have an equal opportunity to achieve their goals and follow their dreams. Sadly, when we expose our students to specific tasks and activities with respect to their gender, we limit their chances of having an optimistic approach towards their higher education and

    Read More

  • misconceptions of gender and masculinity

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    We may be personally responsible for our own misconceptions of gender and masculinity. Our actions about these topics speak louder than words. Sociologist, Ann Oakley argues that parents often mold their children around certain behaviors, with positive and negative consequences, to adhere to the standards that are socially acceptable. Oddly there is a strong back lash to this sort of treatment in females. In a study done conducted by Michael Messner, when asked who was a tomboy and who was a sissy as children, women raised their hands more often to identify with the tomboy image. The tomboy trait celebrates masculinity and restricts femininity. Often children explore many traits about themselves, as Allen explained to Pascoe, “When you’re younger…you’re a kid. You are wide open…You just do what you want” (Pascoe 118). Darnell, a football player, stated “Since you were little boys you’ve been told, ‘hey don’t be a little faggot’” (p 55). Darnell showcasing that males are conditioned very early like females about their roles of masculinity. These children are taught about how masculinity works. In the school Pascoe researched, a faculty member, Mr. Ford, reminded males students through his reply to a backhanded comment made to him from another student that men should engage in sexual actives with women, not men. Another...

    Read More

More about Sexism at School

Open Document