09-15-2008 Chapter 4: Group Differences

What?

Group/Gender Differences
As we grow up, we are taught that there are certain things that are more appropriate for boys than for girls and more appropriate for girls than boys. For instance, we typically think of those with occupations like nurse or teacher as being women. We would imagine fire fighters and construction workers to be men. Now it is beginning to be believed that we should not plant these ideas or images in children's heads because men and women are crossing these "boundaries" all of the time. We do not want to restrict children by making them believe there are things that only men, or only women, can do.

So what?

So we need to teach children that they can do whatever they want without a fear of being ridiculed or exiled. We need to do what we can to eliminate these pre-conceived notions they may have of what is and is not okay for the different genders. There are increasingly more children who may even have questions about their own gender, so we need to do all we can to ensure they are comfortable being who they are.

Now what?

Now I will take what I have learned about gender differences and equity and apply it to my own classroom. I will do all I can not to stereotype certain genders into specific categories or areas. I think watching my vocabulary and not using policeMAN, fireMAN, and mailMAN but rather police officer, fire fighter, and mail carrier will make a differences. It's a small thing but it may help to eliminate some of those gender schemas the students may already have.