Gender segregation in the classroom
Lori E Hutchinson
there has been the same issue brought up in our local school district. I
went to a very large (760 in my class alone) coed high school in the MidWest
(USA) and excelled in biology but not in math or physics. (I later redeemed
myself in college). Was my poor performance in H.S. geneder related? I don't
think so. In fact, most of the extremely bright students in the physical
sciences in
this school were girls. There was a group of high achievers in math and
science and I think there were many more females than males.
I never sensed the existance of a male dominated
environment. My intimidation and shyness came more from being a mere social
security number at the tender age of 12 than to being female. I do remember
many very bad teachers though, and I think that
is the key. Get highly motivated, intelligent, caring teachers into the
classroom and then all students are given a chance to test the waters of
science and decide if it is for them or not. As far as going into science as
a career, it wasn't until college where I
had the opportunity to work in a lab that I actually saw science as a
viable career option. Until then, I studied biology for the simple joy of it
(much to my parents dismay) and had absolutely no idea how I was going to
make a living.
As for gender seperation in science classroom, I would like
to chime in as being against it for reasons that have already been stated.
Given good instruction (here I am back on that soap box) female students can
do well in science even with the males lurking about. Let's face it the real
world is coed. Are these single-gender classes going to be taught the same?
As someone already stated, if I were in an all-female classroom I would be
very curious to know what was going on in the male classroom. Was I getting
the whole story or some watered-down version.
Just my 2 cents. Interesting topic!
L.Hutchinson
--
Lori E Hutchinson
ken...@iastate.edu
Julia A. Keith
beyond is not to seggregate the sexes, but to somehow change the culture so
that "smart" girls are still attractive. I have a jr high age daughter who
recently changed her career goals from veterinarian to pop rock star for
reasons of teenage perception of what's desireable in the eyes of the opposite
sex. I went to high school in the 70s, and back then boys could be smart and
"cool", but not girls. I was told by my high school boyfriend that he felt it
was unfeminine that I had the best grade in physics. Needless to say, I became
extremely self conscious about even answering questions in class. I don't think
the culture here in America has changed much since then on this regard-women
who are good in English are commended, those that are good in science are an
oddity of some kind. There is nothing worse than being an oddity in jr high
(Personally, I think there's nothing worse than jr high, but that's a cultural
phenomenon harder to change).
Solution? A prominent woman developmental geneticist appeared in a recent issue
of Glamour magazine and as much as we got yucks out of it in the lab, I think
it's a step in the right direction. Why can't one be "glamorous" AND smart?
We need to teach our daughters that smart is not a bad word. Unfortunately,
the current political climate in America is almost anti-intellectual and does
little to reinforce this.
Doing my best not to raise Madonna,
Julie Keith
Laurel S. Bernstein
>From: Julia....@DARTMOUTH.EDU (Julia A. Keith)
>Subject: Re: Gender segregation in the classroom
>Date: 26 May 1995 15:39:48 -0700
>It strikes me that the solution to the gender problem at the jr high level and
>beyond is not to seggregate the sexes, but to somehow change the culture so
>that "smart" girls are still attractive. -snip-
>Solution? A prominent woman developmental geneticist appeared in a recent issue
>of Glamour magazine and as much as we got yucks out of it in the lab, I think
>it's a step in the right direction. Why can't one be "glamorous" AND smart?
>We need to teach our daughters that smart is not a bad word. Unfortunately,
>the current political climate in America is almost anti-intellectual and does
>little to reinforce this.
I agree. I was several years into grad school before I saw a "glamorous"
female seminar speaker- it was a scientist whose work I had long admired and I
remember being absolutely stunned that she "didn't look like a scientist." I
had a lot of strong feelings about that seminar, because I felt my focus on
her looks was not appropriate- and I suddenly became aware that I had been
thoroughly indoctrinated. I hope I can make this clear- I felt I
was having what was probably a common reaction to her but, unlike some others,
I was really resenting it. I do remember the context of some of this though-
my department had several job searches going on at the time with lots of
seminars, and most the female candidates were what we used to call "science
nuns"- they were dressed so conservatively (blue suit, white blouse, flat
pumps) that they looked like the nuns who are one step away from the full
habit. So when I saw this seminar speaker she really stood out. Unfortunate
that the job candidates felt they had to be in camouflage this way- but I know
many male candidates do the same (navy blazer, tan or gray pants, etc.).
Well, this was more of a flashback than a helpful post. But I certainly
agree with Julia. And I gotta go look for that Glamour magazine!
Laurel
Drmarts
from veterinarian to pop rock star for reasons of teenage perception of
what's desireable in the eyes of the opposite sex.
Doing my best not to raise Madonna,<<<
Your mention of Madonna prompted me to think that one way to encourage
your daughter (and other girls her age) to continue to excel in school
regardless of their career goal of the moment is to point out how what
they're learning in school relates to that goal. Madonna is one hell of an
astute business woman, marketing wizz, and athlete (check out those
thighs!). So to succeed as a pop star you need to know math, psychology,
biology (exercise and nutrition), geography (gotta plan those tours), you
fill in the rest. My point is that it's not the career goal that matters
as much as encouraging our daughters (grandaughters, nieces, etc.) to
dream big, then figure out how to fulfill the dream.
Sherry Marts
American Health Assistance Foundation