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Gender Segregation

Alexander Rodrigues

ENGL0003

November 26th, 2012

Micheline Lacroix

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Alexander Rodrigues

ENGL0003

November 6th, 2012

Micheline Lacroix

Gender Segregation

In the present world, parents are worried about the education of their children at

schools. Some of them have extreme positions about it and they place their kids in

schools that have gender segregation. But is it really necessary? Is gender segregation

a good choice? Gender segregation is an idea that makes education weak and gives us

a false feeling that it helps to evolve the knowledge of each gender; moreover, boys and

girls should receive equal educational opportunities. Mixing genders facilitate the

obtainment of knowledge and sharing of their experiences; it also helps to understand

the other gender, and when a problem between the genders occurs, they will know how

to deal with it.

Some defenders of sex segregation say that differences between the genders

require different styles of learning. However, according to scientists, there are just a few

differences between males and females and none of these distinctions are connected to

teaching styles. Although boys tend to be better at spatial subjects and girls at

communication, not exploring the benefits of sharing these qualities is to squander the

evolution of both sexes. Thus, when we mix the genders, we help to develop the parts

that are weak in both. They all have a specific area that is highlighted and it divides

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them in these specific areas that can harm their education by squandering their learning

abilities. Therefore, sharing knowledge makes their education easier and is crucial

because it helps organizations (in the case preschools) promote best practices and

reduce redundant learning efforts or reinventing the wheel (Hansen, 2002; McDermott

and ODell, 2001).

The knowledge about and between both genders is extremely important in

society. When students are segregated by sex, they are not given opportunities to work

together to develop the skills needed to interact with each other. When sex segregation

occurs in public schools, the students are left to infer reasons for the separation. (State

2011) Are females not as good as males in certain topics? Are boys incapable to study

in cooperative environments? Well, the protectors of sex segregation are limited on their

thoughts because females and males can be good in all kinds of areas and work

together in cooperation.

Solving problems is one of the most important skills that people must learn. This

is because resolving these issues make us motivated to continue living. The best way to

begin solving problems between genders is at school. In the school, kids play and start

to have their differences and problems begin to appear. This is an important process

because children start to solve their problems. Then, gender issues, like different

behaviors, show up and sometime are resolved because they initiated societal

knowledge involving, what works in groups and what works with the opposite sex.

Institutionalizing gender-segregated classrooms limits childrens opportunities to

develop a broader range of behaviors and attitudes. Positive and cooperative interaction

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with members of other groups is an effective method for improving intergroup

relationships. (Gaertner, 2010) It`s all about learning.

In summary, with all the opportunities that appear in the world, males and

females ought to have the same chances to evolve their knowledge and to make

education stronger. Mixing genders bring society the benefits of sharing experiences,

the benefits of helping and solving problems between them. The fact is that the world is

changing and gender segregation will not be as accepted anymore.

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References

Hansen, M. T. (2002). Knowledge networks, explaining effective knowledge sharing inmultiunit companies. Organization Science, 13, 232 48.

McDermott, R. and ODell, C. (2001). Overcoming cultural barriers to sharingknowledge. Journal of Knowledge Management, 5, 7685.

Penn State (2011, September 22). Sex segregation in schools detrimental to equality.Science Daily. Retrieved November 26, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com

/releases/2011/09/110922141910.htm.

S. L. Gaertner et al., in Intergroup Attitudes and Relations in Childhood throughAdulthood, S. R. Levy andM. Killen, Eds. (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 2010), pp.204219.