So... we are now over half way done with the first term of our Master's Program. It is so crazy to think that we will soon be in the classroom, working on implementing, and not spending all day with our cohort! WEIRD! What is that going to be like? I think back to the interview where we had a Q & A section with old residents and the one thing they all kept saying was... "It will go by fast. You will learn so much and before you know it, it will all be over and you will be graduating." I remember sitting in the Q & A thinking... yup! Sure, sure! That is what everyone always says and sometimes it does actually fly by and other times, it seems like it will never end! All I can say is, SO FAR... it has flown by. I have really enjoyed getting to know my cohort and entering into intensional, deeper conversation with people who all hold different stories than myself. I am really excited for what is to come and not just meaning our dance parties, or barcrawl, or Friday gatherings, or potlucks, but the whole thing; classroom stories, long nights of preparation, needed vent sessions, and then graduation! What a year we have before us.
On another note, I wanted to throw out the idea of gender equality and see what everyone thinks. In class today I brought up the fact that our reading touched on the idea that the roles of men within the household are very significant. I think we all can agree that men, especially fathers, are super important and drastically change the outcome of ones life when they are present or not. I know from personal experience that not having my dad around drastically changed my life. I can testify to growing up in a primarily single-parent home with my mother and sister and noticing a void. This is not to say that my mom didn't provide, build things, do yard work, fix the car, cook, clean, help with homework, etc. but to recognize that I acted out to capture the attention of guys. I can pin point situations that occurred when all I wanted was the approval and attention of a man because I didn't receive it from my own dad. My dad and I struggle through our relationship to this day, and would this have happened if he would have been present in my life? I can't say for positive, but I am pretty sure!
Gender equality looks different in many different realms for example:
- Within the Work Place. Do men and women get equal pay and equal opportunity? Do we have jobs that are pretty specific to a gender whether we verbally label it or not?
- Within the home. Do we value one parent over the other? Is a mother's role more important than a father's or vise versa?
- Within the school system. How important is it to have male teachers and mentors? Do men primarily teach math, P.E., and science within the middle school and high school, if so... why?
- Within the government. What is it going to take or will it ever happen that we have a woman president?
- Within sports. Is it for a woman's own good not to play in the NFL? Is it simply that spectators don't place as much value on female sports as they do on mens?
What do you think? Are we, as America, stalled in gender equality, have we successfully completely the task, or are we somewhere in the middle? I don't know if there is really a right answer to this and I recognize it is all bias and based off person preference. With that said, our own history and stories play into our views and opinions on this topic as well.
So... WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Well Stacey, let me just say that you're on point when you say this year seems to be going by fast. The more I look at the calendar the more I realize that we're already a month into our residency, and it has flown by. This last month I have met and examined very different people from myself, and that is a learning process to engage yourself in. Especially the further we go into readings and discussions with one another, the more I learn about every one else and their points of view. This has allowed me to reflect on my thoughts and perceptions because I have been challenged by my peers. This is all a needed experience to have to ensure that you are a progressive educator. Furthermore, in the rest of your blog you talked about the comment you made in relation to the image of a man and what role he plays for the family. While you were saying this yesterday, I reflected on my father and the role he has and still plays in my home. Growing up with him we were disciplined academically and socially about who we should be and how we want others to perceive us. The older we grew, the more room and space he gave us, but still to this day I look for his approval on some things like purchasing a car or buying stock. He has been my mentor for years. With that said, I can only imagine what those that do not grow up with that kind of fatherly figure would feel examining and evaluating their decisions, especially during the youthful years. It can be a tougher road to go down, and in some cases detrimental.
ReplyDeleteStacey,
ReplyDeleteGreat insight in your writing this week! I think that at times we will feel that this whole residency year is in a stand-still, and we're looking forward to the weekend, or a christmas break coming up. Then again in hindsight by next June when we are standing there with the 150 other residents we're going to be thinking "where did the time go?". I think that you writing just a little bit about not having a father present while you grew up took courage to voice that. I know one of my best friend who also has the same issues as you who had her father pass away when she was younger and admits that she just wants needs the attention of a man. I do think, and its my opinion, that having a two-parent household does benefit the family. As you continued to write about gender equality I reverted to a time when I sat in on a lecture by Linda Cohn. Linda Cohn is a regular anchor on ESPN who is a woman. She talked about her struggles finding equality in a male-dominate job. However, ESPN now has one of the most diverse group of employees out there. Linda Cohn set the tone for the rest to follow. I love to see that! Unfortunately, not every job is this, not every woman is paid the same as a man. Side note-I would love to see a woman president. I am all for equality in any aspect of life! Thanks for sharing.
Meg
It is very interesting to think about male influence for children growing up. I grew up with both of my parents living in my home and my sister has grown up with primarily just my mother. I often think about how this will effect her. However I had not really thought about it from the other side before; how it effects young boys to grow up without a father. How are boys supposed to grow up to be responsible men if they only have negative male influences. The influence boys see in the media and in their communities just perpetuate the cycle. The communities need to be transformed and valued, not just the schools we will be working in, to effect the changes we want to see. On another note, I would love to see more gender equality in the work place and in homes. I think we are moving towards a more equitable society in terms of gender but we are not there yet. Women need to feel empowered to go for jobs that are traditionally male dominated and women should believe they are worth a competitive salary and ask for it. I think too often women are passive about getting what they deserve. This is an area as educators we can influence. We can give our female students encouragement for them to thrive in all subject areas. We can help instill a sense of value in themselves so they will feel that they deserve to be successful.
ReplyDeleteStacey,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog this week! You brought up an issue that I often try to make sense of- gender difference/gender equality. There is no denying the fact that men and women have many difference caused by their biological structure. I strongly believe that the first step in achieving gender equality is to recognize the different strengths that each gender has to offer to every situation. That being said, I believe that there is a desperate need for more men in the teaching profession.
You also touched on a very important aspect of gender roles, which is the role of a child’s father. I believe that too often, fathers are either absent in a child’s life or are around but not fulfilling their role as a father. This absent void has a strong effect on the child. Too many kids are lacking a positive male role model in their life. What better way to provide a positive male role model than to have a male teacher and/or coach? Although I believe men and women can equally provide a great education for children, there is no denying the need for positive male interaction for our children. The uneven number of male versus women teachers needs to change. I believe that more male teachers can have a positive effect on our student’s lives. ☺