ind their manners and act like a lady or a girl may not feel that it is ever all right for her to speak her mind or stand up for herself. Teachers too, can be biased, usually favoring boys. Research has shown that teachers typically wait longer for boys than for girls to answer a question. This subtly reinforces the idea that less is expected of female students. In addition, Zhumkhawala says most teachers even in preschools pay more attention to boys than girls. Boys get more chances to speak, more praise and suggestions, more hugs (48). When confronted teachers explained that this is because girls seem to be doing well without so much attention. Trudy Hamner, author of The Gender Gap in Schools: Girls Loosing Out suggests that we separate education to make it more equal (86). Of course, very few families can afford to send their children to private boys and girls schools. But recently several public schools have been test-driving separate classrooms for girls in math and science. Some critics believe that separate classrooms give the impression that girls arent as smart as boys and therefore need special attention. The girls who participate in these programs, however, love it. They say that not having guys around makes it easier to concentrate on learning rather than worrying about competing or being made fun of for a wrong answer (Hamner, 88-90).Parents and teachers are not the only ones who influence a childs view of gender roles. Television programs further stereotypes, again by showing children how they are supposed to act. For starters, there are more men than women in childrens programs and the women are portrayed most often in family roles. Males on TV are shown as knowledgeable, independent and aggressive. Females are shown as romantic, submissive, emotional and timid (Morgan, 951). According to Nancy Signorielli studies have found that viewing is related to giving more sexist responses to questions about th...
