Gender and Mathematics

Education Digest, 63, 42-47. Article from: MasterFILE Premier: EBSCOhost Item: 80903 Levi, L. (2000). Gender equity in mathematics education. [Online]. Teaching Children Mathematics, 7, 101-107.

Male Superiority In Math: Fact or Fiction? One true mystery of mathematics is the small number of female mathematicians. When most people think of mathematicians, they automatically assume that they are male. This leads to the idea that boys are mathematically superior to girls, which has long been a popular belief. Recent studies, however, may prove this to be wrong.

Gender Equity, Is It Really Important in the Classroom? There are many differences between boys and girls in the classroom. Most people do not realize this, but it is a proven fact. Gender differences in math and science are very evident. Teachers subconsciously treat boys with a higher degree of respect when it comes to math and science than they do girls.

Interaction be... ... middle of paper ... ... the professional fields of science, and mathematics. Works Cited Reys, R., Lindquist, M., Lambdin, D., Smith, N., & Suydam, M. (2001). Helping children learn mathematics. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Levin, B., & Matthews, C. (1997). Using hypermedia to educate preservice teachers about gender-equity issues in elementary school classrooms.

There are many different reasons we need male teachers today in society. They have to face advantages and disadvantages. Some of these male teachers find the need, or desire, to mentor these young boys. Female educators are important but male educators are just as important in ways not possible by a female. Male and female teachers both provide education that the other sex is weaker in.

Guiding Principles for Mathematics Curriculum and Assessment (June 2009). Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=23273 Schoenfeld, A. H. (2009). Why Do We Teach?. Kappa Delta Pi Record 46(1), 26-29. Vogler, K. E. & Burton, M. (2010).

Students are more focused and therefore have better test scores in single-sex classrooms. Although stereotypes are formed because of separating genders, a study in the 2009 British Educational Research Journal concluded that in single-sex classrooms, girls achieve more in math and science while boys achieve more in English (Kwong). Stereotypes have been developed early on of what girls and boys are more proficient at. Naturally girls are better at English; boys, math and science (compound sentence: elliptical construction). Single-sex classes encourage girls to pursue more in science and math and boys in English because it takes away gender stereotypes.

It has long been debated whether or not boys are falling behind girls in school. Various studies claim that girls are better for the classroom environment because it is simply in their nature or their gender. One study done on the gender adjustment differences on first graders specifically says that, “girls tend to fit more naturally into the student role than do boys. Girls may find it easier than boys to sit for long periods of time and complete projects requiring fine motor skills.” What people fail to remember is that sex and gender aren’t the same. All girls are not going to fit into the role of being better students tha... ... middle of paper ... ...5.

Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov Zhu, Z. (2007). Gender differences in mathematical problem solving patterns: A review of literature. International Education Journal, 8(2), 187-203. Retrieved from http://iej.com.au

They feel much more comfortable about their abilities without worrying about how they look in front of boys and have more confidence to take place and participate in class discussions, while boys have much more confidence to dominate most class discussion, thus giving no chance for girls to participate in those discussions. The major problem is that teachers often call boys more than girls in Mathematics mainly. It also shows that boys get a great benefit from attending single sex schools. It is expected that a teacher of a class of boys only could adopt a teaching method that encourages boys' abilities in discussions and debates to be more direct, straight, excited at the same time. Generally, not all boys and girls are going to be relaxed in single sex classes, it would be very violent.