Gender

3.1 Explain how society influences gender differences in our students.

• From the day we're born, girls and boys are treated differently. Girls are picked up more, talked to more often, and treated more delicately than boys on average. They're given pink blankets, called cute and pretty, and offered toys such as dolls and stuffed animals. Boys are dressed in blue, regarded as handsome, and are seen as tougher, more coordinated, and hardier. Play with them is usually rougher and more physically stimulating. Naturally, each gender grows up acting much differently as a result of how they're treated very early on.
• As boys and girls get older, there begins to be emphasis on what they should and should not do. Mathematics, computers, and science occupations are deemed as male occupations, where nursing and teaching is more often seen as careers for women.
• Even schools are thought to perhaps be more compatible with girls genetically. In girls, components of the brain that focus on words and fine-motor skills are a year ahead of boys, and emotional centers are also more advanced. This gives them a head start in school and also allows them to sit still for the long periods of time that schools demand in order to teach them.

3.2 How should teachers respond to gender differences?

• Communicate openly with students about gender issues and concerns.
• Encourage equal participation in all classes.
• Make an effort to present examples of men and women in non-stereotypical roles.
• Encourage girls to pursue science and math-related careers and boys to consider careers in fields such as nursing and teaching.
• Talk to parents and remind them to be careful about how they talk to their children about non-stereotypical careers for their children's gender.