Gender Equity

Do you think the problem of gender bias has been overblown?  Is there any merit to the argument that boys lose out as much as girls do, just in different ways, in schools today?  How do you want to approach the issue of gender in your own schools and districts?  How is the issue of gender bias (or lack thereof) illustrated at the David School (from the Country Boys video)?

I would venture to examine the belief system that teachers carry with them as they set out educate our students of today. In order to critically determine whether or not there is a problem with gender bias in our classrooms, we have to first self-reflect on our actual roles as educators. What do we come to the table with in terms of expectations? Educators will not be able to rise above whatever the media hype throws our way until we are able to answer the hard questions in the first place.

Every community in the United States takes on a different stance on education. As we have learned before, students are afforded as many opportunities as the economy and immediate community needs and/or can render. The study of gender bias takes on a different meaning depending on where it is being studied. When the community is conscious about it, it tends to put mechanism together to combat it. If the community chooses to keep quiet about it, then it will simply turn a blind eye.

Let’s go back to the idea of self-reflection. When teachers can identify why they chose to go into the field of education, they are more likely to discern the needs of all students on a more consistent basis- both male and female; black or white; brown or tan; short or tall….. They can do this because they have a mindset to make a difference for each and every student that they serve. Teachers who have no fear of the cultural background that each of their students bring are better equipped to embrace the ideas of differences; thus minimizing the chances for gender biases- and any other biases to form. Teachers have to expect that all of their students can achieve--- ALL of them; no matter what the content area is. Finally, teachers who actually believe that they are making a difference in the lives of their students are less likely to form biases in the classroom. When one is teaching in an environment that advocates this type of thought processes, then they may believe that the topic of gender bias is overblown. Those who are not afforded the luxury of being in an upbeat and positive teaching environment may think that we are not doing enough to combat the apparent bias to gender.

In the classroom, out on the court, on the track field, on the stage, in the band, and on the debate team, are boys losing out? Do girls get an upper hand now on academics since the fight for equality has been on the minds of leaders? Have girls mastered academics to the same caliber has our young men used to? Is there a despairing gap? How do you know?  Well, the State of Texas has put an indicator system into place to measure subgroup performance. While it is phasing out as we speak, TAKS or the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills sought to define how each subgroup performed on standardized testing. Surprisingly enough, the State scores show that male and female students perform equally or very near the same in the core academic areas. This approach should continue to be examined each year as scores are reported to each district in the State. Now that we are crossing over to a new standard of testing- it is more likely that differences in gender performances may become evident. Districts

should begin now to provide training on bridging gaps.

The documentary that examines the lives of two “Country Boys” could depict gender bias, if that is what one is looking for. Since the video is more about struggling to make good choices in hopes of a better life, I think it is a stretch to say it shows gender bias. Everyone in the lives of these two young men wants to see them succeed. If the documentary was about two female students- I suppose you could say that it was biased against the male students in the David School.