Sunday, October 28, 2007
Discussion Prompt 9
Does it any longer seem "natural" that the teaching profession is occupied mostly by women, especially in elementary schools? Why are there so few female math and science teachers in high schools? Might these facts be related to the "status" of teaching in comparison with other professions? How might these social facts affect teachers' and students' gendered identities in relation to different subject areas and possible selves and possible careers?
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Thinking about teaching in general if anyone looks around their undergrad or even grad classes you see mostly women. There are few male teachers espicially ones that teach at the elementary level. Recently I took the literacy specialist exam. While taking the exam I looked around the room and the entire room was mostly female. This makes me wonder about the future of the gender of teachers. I think that even math and science, but also social studies relates to that category of mostly male teachers. You could even look at music, gym, and art teachers? Is there a balance?
Personally, I'm noticing an increase in male elementary teachers. It's not too overt or fast-growing, but the numbers do seem to be going up. This makes me really excited! Think about all the things male teachers can bring to the table, as teachers and as coworkers. Think about the perspectives, think about the kids who struggle but could do so much more if they simply had a male role model, think about the kids that just needed a male teacher to be able to open up and ask questions and achieve their potential. As a female, of course I wish I could solve all the students' problems and relive their struggles but I'm also rational and it's just doesn't work that way. Some kids could overcome their own personal obstacles with the help of that knowledgeable, male figure in their lives. I also know some guys who are far more "motherly" and "nurturing" than some girls I've been acquainted with. Once the male population overcomes the gender stipulations equated with the elementary teacher, there'll be that many more opportunities for kids to grow and succeed, which is why we're all in the field in the first place. Right?
I feel that the teaching profession being predominately female dates all the way back to the beginning of the teaching career in which women were the only ones to teach. The men were off "saving the world" and the females were left to mother their children, both in the home and in the classroom. Teaching was not looked upon as a admiring profession because as females we were (and perhaps still are) seen as weak (as compared to males) and therefore, the teaching profession is labeled weak! I know, many of these comments are very strong and can be disagreed upon but in my undergrad I learned about the history of teaching and I don't feel as though we have shaken off that stereotype that teaching is just for women because women cannot handle the tough jobs that men face. I know we all don't think that, but the changes have not been made.
Think about what profession gets paid more....let's see...professional athletes...mostly men..and CEO's (predomintely men) of businesses. Of course I say mostly men because women are creeping up to higher positions but the changes are slow!
In this profession we are unable to shake this stereotype that this is a female led profession, so it is very important that as teachers we make sure to educate our students about both gender roles and allow them to experiment.
As Meghan said in prompt 7 "The last example Davies talked about was Geoffrey...what boy wouldn't think a boy wearing girl clothes would be weak? I understand that boys at a young age will play dress up..." We should allow students at any age to challenge the gender roles and stereotypes at any chance.
What do you think?
Teachers are one of the most poorly paid professionals. Consider all the requirements we must meet in order to be certified in NYS. I love it when I tell people that 20 years ago I made the same amount of money and had a company car with long lunches and they respond by telling me that at least I love my job. Since when is enjoying your profession an excuse for low wages? Many teachers leave the profession within the first five years of teaching. Those who come to teaching later in life or as second careers, I believe, do so because it's one of the few institutions that still offers a retirement plan and decent medical benefits and/or they can financially afford to do with less. Add that to the enormous amount of work we have to do daily and the level of responsibility, and it really shouldn't be too surprising that women are the ones willing the do the job. We have traditionally (stereotypically) been the martyrs. And, after all, we do have short days and the summers off. Hahaha. Okay, don't hurt me. I hate when people say that. Technically, we work eight hours a day with little to no bathroom breaks and a 30 minute lunch, if we can shake the kids or lock them out of the room. Summers are catch-up reading and personal professional development time. (I read tons of books and work on curriculum. I also clean my house.) Lastly, when we consider the state of fear that our country lives in perpetually, it's no wonder that men in elementary classrooms cleaning noses, giving hugs, and patting backs makes some people nervous. Some work is still considered woman's work. Education is in desperate need of men! (And that's not just me talking.) Our young boys need models like Mr. Good in Davies' piece. He shows kids what it means to be many different kinds of men not just the wrestling, homophobic dominant male. According to Davies, "His [Mr. Good's] strategies are to do with envisioning and experiencing another set of possibilities,..." And here's my favorite quote from the piece referring to the kind of classroom that does not perpetuate the hegemonic practices of masculinity, in a classroom that is critically and socially literate language is "a life-giving set of possibilities for shaping and reshaping a complex, rich, fluid social world" (p. 29). Isn't that lovely?
Mickey's response to the prompt question is so well put and well-spoken that it is hard to follow. Although, I had to agree with everything she said. She and I can be deemed stereotypical, but the fact is that I spent 4 years in an undergraduate education at Oneonta and I can count on my two hands the number of males in my education classes, and probably on one hand the ones that stuck with it until student teaching. In the district I am working in right now, there is ONE male teacher at the third grade level. The only other males in the elementary school are in administration, (the principal) the reading specialist, and the janitorial staff. It upsets me a great deal when I think about students growing up without a male figure in their lives never having a male teacher, even if it is someone to look up to for only a year. Let's face it, if you go into teaching you're most likely a good role model, and we need more male role models in the classroom.
When I first looked at this prompt, I immediately starting thinking about professions and how certain ones are seen as "female professions" while others are "male." I find it so odd that our society is hung up on these stereotypes. Thea is right, everywhere you look when it comes to teaching, you see females. The males usually come into play in the administration aspect. It makes me continue to ask why. It's so frustrating to think that in the year 2007, there are still so few male teachers. While I agree that we are beginning to see more males entering this field of work, I still think there is a lack. It's even more frustrating to think about the fact that so many professions are so predominantly male or female. I work at Merrill Lynch which is another place where this stereotype is seen. When you look at what sexes make up the actual stock brokers, you will notice that it is mostly males. When I tell people my mom is a broker, some are almost shocked that a woman can be successful in this "male industry." It all makes me continue to ask why. I do agree with Mallory's point that certain professions have always been seen as being female or male but isn’t about time that these ideas of the past are simply the past. After thinking about this idea of gender and stereotypes, it makes me realize that one our jobs as a teacher is to help break these hidden stereotypes and show students that they can really be and do whatever they put their mind to.
I agree with Justine. I also see an increase in male teachers. I had more boys in my undergrad classes than I had expected. Their concentrations were mostly technology, math and science. I even know a guy that his concentration was ESL and once he graduated, he had at least 3 offers for a job. If you are a male, and want to teach elementary school... you will get a job no matter what. I have been subbing in various school districts and I see male teachers. They are out there!!
I agree with everything that has been said and I think these stereotypes are just like the gender biases that our students face; they aren't going to go away easily and there's a good chance they won't ever. I definitely support what has been said that we have to break the biases and stereotypes at every chance we get as teachers. In the school that I work in, there aren't any male classroom teachers, but the art and music teacher are male, which suprised me (especially the music teacher). But this just shows that some males have been able to overcome the stereotypes. Also, going along with what Justine said, I know some females who would definitely not be cut out to be teachers and I bet if we think about every teacher that we've met, we have wondered why some of them have jobs. You definitely have to have a certain personality and talent to be a teacher and it's a shame that stereotypes are keeping the right people out and bringing the wrong people in.
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