A recent ASCD webinar, “Gender Equity in Education,” turned educators' attention to the systemic inequities still present in K-12 schools—inequities that not only impact opportunity and fairness early on, but also the workforce. Presenter Tara Linney, an education technology specialist, pointed to some glaring data: Nationally, women make up just 20 percent of the computer science workforce, 17 percent of architects and high-ranking financial analysts, 10 percent of construction workers, and 11.5 percent of astronauts. According to Linney, these figures are in part due to a lack of instructional materials and leadership demonstrating to girls what is possible.
“When we assign reading,” Linney asked the 469 live attendees, “are there stories that can inspire [girls] to see the possibility of what they can become?”
She paused and let the question linger before continuing.
“Equity is about providing each individual with what they need to be successful.”
So, what should be done to build an equitable school environment, one that could potentially close workforce gaps? According to Linney, educators can work toward gender inclusion by focusing on four areas:
1. Retooling Curriculum
Have students explore current events that illustrate what women have been doing in the fields of space, science, engineering, etc. And, when teaching, Linney recommends adding positive presupposition, which entails stating that a subject is for women despite anything they’ve heard to the contrary: “Add a ‘yet’ or ‘might’ to leave the door open to girls.”
2. Mix-Gendered Groupings
When grouping for class projects, allow for mix-gendered partnerships that get boys and girls to work together. Exposure, Linney says, is the key to unlocking another way of thinking. “Build opportunities for students of different genders to work together and not against, getting students out of their comfort zones.”
3. Diversifying Library Resources
Are you stocking your classroom shelves with books depicting both male and female scientists? Politicians? Social justice advocates? Do the authors and protagonists featured in those books represent the diverse genders in your classroom environment? Linney recommends carefully curating your classroom library, adding that it’s important stories don’t depict “the same gender always winning.”
4. Promoting Extracurricular Activities
Take a pulse on what students gravitate toward and emphasize that any student can participate in any sport or activity without restrictions. Have students take inventory of what they are good at and reflect on how those skills might transfer to another context. “It’s about getting our marginalized students to see how their skills can help the team,” says Linney.
As comments in the chat during the webinar showed, much work remains: In July, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) passed a law making it difficult for educators to teach gender equity.
For Linney, it’s all about providing adequate representation so that girls start to believe they belong even in the most traditionally inequitable work environments. Putting empowering and diverse resources in front of students is key: After all, as Linney aptly phrases, “it’s hard to be something that you can’t see.”
Gender Equity in Education
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