GENDER IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

I. FUNCTIONS OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

a. Avenue for social mobility

b. sorting process

c. socialization

II. GRADE SCHOOL

a. Content

b. Teacher/child interaction

c. What is the message?

III. MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

A. Self-Esteem

B. Academics –

1. General conclusions

2. Math/Science/Engineering/English

§ Why do we care so much about math and science?

§ Where do differences come from?

· External vs. internal

§ What about English?

C. Harassment

· 1993, half of all sexual harassment cases investigated by the U.S. Department of Education involved elementary and secondary schools

· According to a study by the AAUW, 78% females and 68% males report being sexually harassed.

· Who are the perpetrators?

· Consequences

IV. SECONDARY EDUCATION

A. General Patterns

1. Attendance

1950: women were 41.3% of college graduates

1960: women were 23.9% of college graduates

1970: women were 35% of college graduates

2004: women were 51% of college graduates

2. Faculty Representation

3. Majors

B. Why?

1. Institutional explanations: Cultural messages

2. Individual explanations: identity

3. Interactional explanations: Cultural environment

C. Solution? Sex-Segregated Schools

1. Pros

2. Cons