A couple weeks ago, I had this great group of students.  They were helpful, kind, a bit rambunctious, and overall, very compassionate.  Then we got to our adventure course; the time when teamwork shines, and things proved to be very interesting.  During the A-Frame activity, I noticed that the boys were very vocal, while most of the girls stayed quiet.  Naturally, to make the activity more difficult, I put a restriction on the boys so that they could no longer talk, which proved to be a very difficult challenge for them to overcome.  With the opportunity to speak freely, without competition from their male classmates, the girls then finished the activity successfully.

Following this activity, a fantastic conversation ensued.  I asked the girls to raise their hands if they had ever felt silenced by their male classmates or friends.  I wasn’t too surprised when every single girl raised their hands.  I asked myself why this competition to share ideas and speak in front of a group often ends with men sharing, while women stay quiet.  This silencing, of course, is not done intentionally, but it happens nonetheless. 

In a survey looking at certain aspects of socialization in 110 cultures, childhood is a very important time in which children begin to establish their personal identities and place within society.  Among the 110 cultures, just as in our society, there is a widespread pattern on greater pressure toward nurturance, obedience, and responsibility in girls, and toward self-reliance and competition in boys.  There were, however, a few examples of reversals in gender difference, and many instances of no gendered behavioral differences.  This information can lead us to believe that there is a significant cultural influence that affects our gendered identity, rather than a purely biological nature.

So yes, I am talking about the difference in socialization of girls and boys.  The fact that women get paid only 80 cents to the dollar, and that young girls today are still remaining silent, means that equality in our nation has not yet been achieved.  And yes, boys and girls are still socialized to act differently.  Through various activities, opportunities, encouragements, and discouragements of “appropriate” and “inappropriate” behavior, boys and girls learn gender stereotyped behavior.  Why are young boys expected to play with action-figures or Tonka trucks while little girls are expected to play with Barbie dolls?  What is the inherent difference in the two types of toys and why is there a gendered association with the two? I feel like I’m back in the 1960s preaching about WOMAN POWER and EQUALITY!!

Why is this important and pertinent to the way we teach?  Opening up conversations with both boys and girls, in a safe place, allows them to think about their roles in society, and how they treat each other.  Encouraging students to act as they want, and vocalize their ideas, without pressure from their peers, is important in establishing confidence and their self- identity.  Watching out for sexist comments, directed toward either gender, is important in our professional and personal life.  Think about what a great message we are sending to our students as they watch our instructors Chrystal or Megan out there building

boxes or running the chainsaws with the boys.  Or the fact that boys have the opportunity to show off their skills while Kyle teaches line-dancing and Adam dresses up in… well, dresses.  These actions are positive ways to reinforce the fact that it’s cool to be who you are, without adhering to what “society” deems as “appropriate behavior” for girls and boys.  Remember, our students look up to us as role models.  Exemplifying positive attitudes towards both genders can have long-lasting implications on students’ self-image, and the way they treat their peers.