GENDER AND SCHOOL

CURRICULUM
Submitted by
S. JENOVA
B. Ed 1st Year
(Computer science)
Sivanthi College of
Education
Kundrathur
Chennai.

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

Meaning of Gender
 Gender is the concept developed
by the society. It refers to the
socially constructed identities of
men and women such as norms,
roles and relationships between
group of women and men.

Meaning of Curriculum
• Curriculum refers to the lesson
and academic content taught in a
school or in a specific course or
program

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

Gender Disparity in Curriculum
The gender inequality
may be reflected in the
traditional curriculum
in the following ways
I. Associating different
subjects with
masculinity and
femininity
II. Teachers presenting
teaching materials
differently for girls
and boys
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
 Gender bias operates in almost all
facts of the school life

Curriculum content

Gender bias in Education

GENDER AND
SCHOOL
CURRICULU
Role of Teacher M

Role of School

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

CURRICULUM CONTENT
Representation of Gender roles in Textbook and Curriculum

 Content matter usually not giving enough

importance to women achievers and their
achievement.
 In the school curriculum, history and language
lessons provide more opportunities for gender
inequality being expressed.
 UNESCO study of teaching materials used in
schools of different countries across the world
found overwhelmingly strong gender bias.
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
Gender Stereotype in school textbooks and
curriculum  PRIMARY SCHOOL
LEVEL
In this level textbook contain

pictorial illustration explaining the

gender roles and functions of

family members like father,

mother, brother, sister etc. This

makes a deep impression in the

minds of young children about

what men/women should do and

what they should not do.

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL

o Names of female characters

ignored in the literature – e.g.
Mother of Kovalan/Kannagi in
Silappathikaram
o Exceptions in this are some of
the prominent names like
Yasodhara (w/o Buddha),
Asoka’s daughter Sangamitra
etc.
o Other prominent names
include Sembian Mahadevi &
Kundavai Nachiyar of Chozha
kingdom and Meenakshi and
Koperndevi of Pandia
Kingdom
o Character of Chastity was
adored through the characters
of Sita in Ramayana and
Kannagi in Silappathigaram
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
HIGHER SECONDARY LEVEL
o Allocation of courses based on sex – e.g.. Fine arts/Home management for girls
and Engineering or Math for boys etc.
o Similarly sports requiring heavy physical activity is considered for boys
o In filed activities too girls are assigned works as cooking or serving food against
works as road repairing or participating in awareness programs for boys
 Equal importance to all genders
 Unbiased ideas in relation to genders
 Equal representation to all genders
 Roles according to one’s ability

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

GENDER BIAS IN EDUCATION
Gender-bias in Education
refers to treating boys and
girls differently in all school
activities and learning
experiences provided, such
as the process of
socialization, classroom
interaction textbooks used,
curricular and co-curricular
activities, resources and
facilities made available to
students etc…

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

 Educational Material
 Gender bias is indirectly taught to students
through textbook and other learning
materials.
 Using Textbooks which Ignore the
Contributions women and those containing
stereotype gender roles and add to gender bias
in the school curriculum
 Use of gender equitable learning material
help students develop gender balanced
knowledge, desirable attitudes towards gender
roles and gender just behavior.
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
Classroom Interaction
Generally in classroom interaction teachers’
reaction to students’ response will be any
one of the following

Provide Feedback to Teacher correcting the

student response response

Commenting on the
Accepting on the
response
student response

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

ROLE OF TEACHER
 Teachers play a very important role during the childhood
and their ideas and beliefs are capable of affecting the
thought patterns of young children.
 A Teacher should be a role model by one’s classroom
activities and behavior for student to develop positive
attitudes towards gender equality.
 In our classroom activities, teachers unintentionally
reinforce traditional gender roles of which the following
are the important ones
 Higher expectations of boys achieving than girls
 Teacher asking questions only to boys often.
 Teachers generally help boys to complete the assignment.

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

Positive attitude of Teacher
Treating boys and girls equally
Encouraging students of both gender to
participate actively in classroom discussions
and Experiments.
Ensuring there is no gender-bias in the
curriculum and instructional materials.
Selecting Textbooks free from gender-bias.
Taking care of cultural differences among
students
Avoiding traditional roles to student while
assigning tasks.
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
Engaging non-traditional choices.
Teachers having equal expectations for boys
and girls in Academic Achievement
Allowing equal wait time for girls and boys
to answer in the class.
Creating conducive learning environment in
the classroom
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
ROLE OF SCHOOL
Sitting in the same classroom, Reading the
same textbook, Listening to the same Teacher,
boys and girls receiving different education
-(Sadker 1994)

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

 Gender socialization
 Gender identity is developed in an individual right from
birth, by various social agencies like family, neighbors,
peers, etc..

Gender socialization takes place even in our school.

Make girls feel that they are not equal to boys. separate
seating arrangement for boys and girls, uniforms, separate
toilet, games and sports events make them feel that they
are treated differently.

Schools could develop the attitude of gender equality

among its students by providing appropriate school
climate and school practices.

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

TRANSGENDER

Those whose identity

as male or female is
not clearly evident..
Educating
Transgender and
providing them with
skill development can
change their life for
the better…

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

Developing school curriculum for
Gender Equality
National policy of Education and National Curriculum
Framework stressed the importance of gender equality in
curriculum. Researchers have identified these attributes that are to
be kept in mind while developing a gender-equitable curriculum and
textbook.
 Give equal importance and representation to both gender.
 Ideas expressed in relation to gender should be unbiased and very
clear.
 Having positive views and attitudes towards both genders.
 Integrating the gender roles of men and women
 Acceptance of social roles, according to one’s own abilities and
capacity, without any gender discrimination
 Without showing any bias or discrimination towards transgender,
schools should play an important role in developing their abilities
and skills.
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
Conclusion
“Education is a strong mean to bring social
change. Education institutions can play a
prominent role in achieving gender
equality.”

“Both men and women should feel free to be

sensitive and to be strong.. It is time that
gender is perceived on a spectrum not as
two opposing sets of ideas.”
TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 My sincere thanks to Administrative
officer(AO),principal and All the staff members of
Sivanthi College of Education, Kundrathur.
 Thiagarajar College of Preceptors, Madurai for
organizing the TCP PRESENTO 2020.
 I specially thank my well wishers for the support
oMr. Sudhahar A
oMrs. Srividya Anandhakrishnan
oMrs. Archana Venkat

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.

REFERENCES
 Gender School and Society, B. Ed., First year, - Prof K.
Nagarajan
 TNTEU Course Material
 https://images.app.goo.gl/xGKuPocWfN21FUwA7
 https://images.app.goo.gl/tSGojBv6DXSfUFaR8
 https://opinionfront.com/gender-discrimination-in-education
 https://www.aclu.org/blog/lgbt-rights/transgender-rights/lets-
be-clear-transgender-discrimination-sex-discrimination
 https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/schools-connect-with-
gender-respect
 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_TransGender-
Symbol_Plain1.png
 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/384213411929870156/?d=t&mt

TCP PRESENTO 2020, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS, MADURAI.