This article published in the New York Times is refuting "scientific" evidence which supports the idea of a single-sex classroom environment. It was widely believed that classrooms which featured just boys or just girls provided the best learning environment, due to the differing ways in which adolescents retained information. With an all male classroom it was thought that boys would be less distracted by the opposite sex and that lessons could be tailored to their needs. In contrast, girls performed better in school than young boys, therefore they would be less bothered my their male peers and could focus more on their educational development. Scientists are now worried that this structure could have adverse affects on male and female relationships in the future workplace and further gender stereotyping.
I myself have never been a supporter of all male or all female schools. We are all destined to work in the same environment in the future and to break down those gender barriers is essential to lessening the gender gap. Just as boys could profit from the insight of female students, the inverse is correct as well.
What benefits or problems do you see in the structure of all male or all female classrooms?
Rebecca Iloulian Week 6 Blogging Assignment:
ReplyDeleteSomething I was recently thinking about in terms of "gender studies" this week was the greek system. Frats always hold parties on the weekends. When they do this, pretty much any girl will be let in to the party regardless what they look like, if they are in a sorority, or any other factors. Yet it a guy who was not in that frat tried to get into the party, he wouldn't be allowed. Guys will allow girls into their parties because they want to be with more girls, not more guys. For example they want to dance with girls, hook up with girls, etc. They are willing to spend money and provide alcohol at these parties for girls because they have the expectation of something happenening with these girls. Yet they will let some guys in, if that guy brings a lot of girls with him. For example, if the ratio is one boy to 6 girls, often the boy will be let in because he brought enough girls along with him. Is this sexist or just natural? Guys won't provide for other guys because they can't get anything out of it. Yet when guys provide for girls they may get something out of it. Also, its interesting how frats always have parties, yet sororities never do. A sorority wouldn't hold a big party like a frat would. I think this somewhat uphold the gender role stereotypes in society, that the males provide for females. Men must throw the parties and do the work, while the girls just have to show up and have fun. The parties in the greek system definitely illustrate this gender role stereotype we have in society and promote it.