Gender Diversity In Education - Essay Example

Instead, diversity can represent variations in interests, perspectives, personalities, abilities and emotions. Gender has a large influence on an individual’s cognitive and emotional development and in their perception. Therefore, gender impacts students learning abilities and in extension a teachers approach to teaching. This paper discusses subject preference as the main challenge teachers have to face in view of variations caused by gender (Cushner et al, 2006). Disparities in education caused by gender are evident in the types of subjects male and female students prefer.

On average, most female students prefer arts and languages while most male students are in tune with math and sciences. Is this disparity the fault of the bio-social disposition of the students or the failure of the teachers and indeed the education system? To answer this question one needs to explore the similarities and differences between male and female students in view of education (assuming a mixed gender classroom). For starters, male and female students are provided equal opportunity for education as stipulated by the constitution.

They are also protected against gender bias and even sexual discrimination. Also, in a standard setting, male students are loved by their male and female parents equally (but expressed differently) and the same is true for female students (Cushner et al, 2006). . On the other hand, psychologists argue that girls may receive instructions with little or no resistance but put emotion in all activities unlike boys who are more factual even at a tender age. Apart from differences in mental development, these factors may contribute to why female students prefer arts to sciences and vice versa for boys (Cushner et al, 2006).

The commitment of a teacher to their students in view of human diversity is very crucial because if the teacher overlooks gender differences, both male and female students will suffer. Also, a teacher should control how their gender influences their interactions with the students in a classroom setting. Given the above, a wise teacher will not let nature take its course. The professional thing to do is to understand the differences these students present. For instance, in an essay that requires the personal thoughts of the student, the teacher should be a flexible evaluator allowing the perception of an individual student to guide them.

A male student may focus on aggressive themes such as war while a female student will pick soothing themes such as family. Also, a teacher may opt to give information laden instructions for the sake of a female students understanding and cued information for the sake of male student. This significantly bridges the gap in subject preference among the students. The teacher should also note that male students despite their culture prefer a practical approach to learning compared to female students.

Having a half practical half theoretical approach to learning is beneficial to all students (Cushner et al, 2006). Another notable difference is the language abilities of male and female students. Despite the lack of concrete scientific evidence, scholars concur that female