The Role Of Gender Challenging Role Models - 1710 Words

The use of gender challenging role models in the classroom is a method I am going to use during my final professional practice and during my year as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT). I am going to use these demonstrate to both girls and boys that the media depiction of success is not accurate and that success can be measured in various ways. Role models such as Marie Curie, Dian Fossey and Mary Anning are good historical figures to use but children could see these as dull despite their achievements. Although I do consider the use of these women as role models important, I feel that a role model who children can relate to and that they see in everyday life would be more successful in challenging gender stereotypes. To encourage girls’†¦show more content†¦The importance for teachers to be positive role models is set out by the government in the Teachers’ Standards (Department for Education, 2011). I believe, as a male teacher, that there is an extra responsibilit y for me to model gender neutrality. I believe it is important for the boys in my classroom have both a positive masculine role model and a male figure in their life that is not afraid to embrace ‘so-called’ feminine aspects of life. I would like the boys in my classroom to understand that there are not boy jobs and girl jobs both in school and at home. I will model this by explaining my role at home; doing the dishes, hoovering, ironing and being a family man; activities that some may see as not very masculine. I will show that there is no such thing a ‘girly’ colours by wearing a pink shirt from time to time. Most importantly I would like to challenge boys’ perception that education is feminine. Although research totally refutes the assumption that boys’ attainment improves when they are placed with a male teacher (Drudy, 2008; Francis et al, 2008; Read, 2010), There seems to be a particular kudos that some male teachers get from children. W hether this is due to their minority status in primary education (National Union of Teachers, 2016) or due to masculinity being given a superior social standing (Skelton, 2011a). Consequently, it important for male teachers to use thisShow MoreRelatedThe Dynamics Of Gender Formation1034 Words   |  5 Pages The Dynamics of Gender Formation Although some people believe that the sex role theory or the socialization model of gender as a process, in which we absorb instructions prescribed by the social institutions to act in the acceptable way to our biological sex, is a trivial issue, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over the gender formation. 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