Gender Roles in the Classroom

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Recommended: What gender differences exist in the education system

When it comes to choices and decisions, our gender roles that society has placed upon us control how we interact, what we say, how we dress, and even how we think. Both boys and girls have specific gender roles to be followed. These gender roles have had an effect within elementary school classrooms that hinder both girls and boys. There is an idea and belief that “boys are falling behind” girls when it comes to education which simply is not true. The stereotypes of how girls and boys should behave and how their learning styles differ has contributed to what future careers these children seek. Teachers who are seen as role models for these children also portray the stereotypes of gender roles. However, these gender roles don’t just affect elementary school children, these roles that are taught carry on throughout their lives and can even affect their opportunities and outcomes in college. Gender roles continue to be portrayed and taught in classrooms via peers and teachers and are extremely detrimental to both girls and boys in their future of furthering their educations and their opportunities for careers.
It has long been debated whether or not boys are falling behind girls in school. Various studies claim that girls are better for the classroom environment because it is simply in their nature or their gender. One study done on the gender adjustment differences on first graders specifically says that, “girls tend to fit more naturally into the student role than do boys. Girls may find it easier than boys to sit for long periods of time and complete projects requiring fine motor skills.” What people fail to remember is that sex and gender aren’t the same. All girls are not going to fit into the role of being better students tha...

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...5. Academic Search Premier. doi:10.1080/09540253.2010.506868
Ponitz, Claire Cameron, Sara E. Rimm-Kaufman, Laura L. Brock, and Lori Nathanson. 2009. "Early adjustment, gender differences, and classroom organizational climate in first grade." The
Elementary School Journal 110, no. 2: 142-162. PsycINFO. doi:10.1086/605470
Skelton, C., B. Carrington, B. Francis, M. Hutchings, B. Read, and I. Hall. 2009. "Gender 'matters' in the primary classroom: pupils' and teachers' perspectives." British Educational Research Journal 35, no. 2: 187-204. Academic Search Premier. doi:10.1080/01411920802041905
Tatum, Holly E., Beth M. Schwartz, Peggy A. Schimmoeller, and Nicole Perry. 2013. "Classroom
Participation and Student- Faculty Interactions: Does Gender Matter?." Journal Of Higher Education 84, no. 6: 745-768. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed December 12, 2013).

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