Gender Bias Is An Educational Social Injustice!

             Social justice is defined in the dictionary as "the distributions of advantages and disadvantages within a society." As a future teacher social justice in the classroom is something extremely important to me. Thinking back on my own school past I would say one major social injustice I witnessed was gender bias in the classroom. In the novel "Failing at Fairness: How Our Schools Cheat Girls" by Dr.Myra and Dr.David Sadker one quote sums up gender bias in our schools. "Sitting in the same classroom, reading the same textbook, listening to the same teacher, boys and girls receive very different educations." (Sadker, 1994). Unfortunately this is still true ten years later. In a world that is so progressive it bothers me that this is still happening in classrooms today. Teachers who allow these types of gender bias' a place in their classroom are only creating a generation who will accept and think of these biases as normal which is not what they should be. 
            So what exactly are some of the issues regarding gender bias that are seen in schools? Research has shown that girls tend to receive significantly less attention than boys in elementary school settings. Studies also show that boys are more likely to repeat grades or drop out. Girls are being taught that being quiet and submissive is the best in the classroom but the boys are being taught that completely different behaviors are allowed in the classroom. Teachers definitely need to make sure that they are not encouraging this type of social injustice in their classrooms. Treat each student as an individual not focusing on their gender at all. Equal education isn't just about disabled students vs. non disabled students it should refer to all forms of differences that exist. It's about being fair and teaching these students to be the best they can be, overcoming these gender stereotypes found in all parts of life.

http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-teen/article-772188-dealing-with-gender-inequality-at-your-child-s-school-t/