A recent example of bias that I came across was in a book my son is reading for Middle School. As the family was sitting around the table eating dinner the daughter asked her father how many square feet in an acre. And later in the conversation then asked her mother for a stamp, an envelope, and a piece of paper. As dinnertime continued, the mother made the comment, "Speaking of gender issues, why did you ask your father about the number of square feet in a n acre? Why not your mother?" The daughter replied, "I thought acres was men's stuff". After asking for the stamp, envelope, and a piece of paper, her mother replied, "Ask your father, he's the stamp, envelope, and paper person". The girl threw her hands up and said, "I give up. I'll never figure out this gender business". Although these statements were made in a joking manner, it goes to show that even young children have learned bias/gender behaviors.
This type of bias diminishes that equity for men and women are not seen as equal in our society. That often times men's roles and women's roles are based on traditions beliefs and values. In this example, the female is the one considered to take care of the "writing" aspect and the male is the math expert.
Feelings that this example had for me at first was a feeling of Wow! There are books out there for children that actually do provide teachable moments based on gender bias. I then had the feeling of understanding how our children do learn such bias from those around them and how it is our responsibility as adults, like the mother in the story, to use teachable moments with young children to help eliminate gender bias and encourage children to be involved in interactions opposite than what society expects.
Who would have to change? Society as a whole. Employers would have to revisit who they hire for what jobs. Families would have to explore the daily duties of mother and father, toys and activities that boy and girls engage in. Religions would have to take a look at their beliefs of what men are put on this earth to do as well as women. And people need to be more educated on the impact that biases have on society as a whole.
Spinelli, J. (1996). Crash. New York, NY: First Scholastic printing.
Parents that read the books that their children read are the best teachers (co-learners). But there is good news! Women outnumber men in college and grad school and now make approximately 90 - 95 cents on every dollar that men make.
ReplyDelete