Institutionalized Sexism

In Early Education
(Preschool 2nd Grade):
Girls Vs. Boys
Amber Elizabeth Marie Hardy

A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment

Bachelor's of Arts in Liberal Studies

Dominican University of California

 Agenda
Arrival Story
Word Cloud Participation

Introduction
Purpose and Research Question

Review of Literature
Methods
Findings
Conclusion
Let's Talk
 Arrival
Spring 2016

Story
Cheramie Leo's English 3200
Service Learning course

Catholic Charities Canal

Family Support Kids Club
Purpose of
Study
To examine if sexism exists in Early Education
classrooms today and how teachers help
promote or demote sexism within their
classrooms.
Research
Question
How do teachers' interactions with students
influence institutionalized sexism in Early
Education (PreK-2) Classrooms?
Literature
Review Does Sexism Exist in Early Education?
Do Educators Influence Sexism in Early Education?
How is Preschool Affected by Sexism in Early Education?
How are Girls Affected by Sexism in Early Education?
How are Boys Affected by Sexism in Early Education?
Misunderstandings
Does Sexism Exist in Early Education?

Institutionalized Sexism is defined as the

attempt to value a student or their
activities as determined by their gender,
comparing girls to boys or boys to girls
(Ayim and Houston, 1996).
Do Educators Influence Sexism in Early
Education?

According to Ayim and Houston (1996), Teachers point out

differences between boys and girls within the classroom.

Christakis (2013), gender disparities within the elementary-

school system occur based on performance
How is Preschool Affected by Sexism in
Early Education?

Martin (2011) Kohlbergs theory of cognitive-developmental

Browne (2004) identity development and social interactions

How are Girls Affected by Sexism in
Early Education?

Hoff Sommers quotes Michael Thompson a psychologist who

says girls are seen as the standard child in school and boys
are seen as defective girls
How are Boys Affected by Sexism in
Early Education?

Hoff Sommer (2014) says, Being a normal boy is a serious

liability in todays classroom

Boys are being stripped of their

identity and genetics based on their
comparison to girls.
Misunderstandings

Sadker and Sadker (1994) say, From grade school through

graduate school females are more likely to be invisible
members of classrooms

Baptiste (2013), Parents and Media

 Methods
Preschool Classroom Observations
Elementary 1st Grade classroom
Observations
Teacher/Librarian Interviews
Findings
1. Teacher/Classroom Dynamic
2. Student Dynamic
3. Twenty-First Century Students
4. Preschool Dynamic
Teacher/ Classroom Dynamic
Student Dynamic

Students interactions with one another can provide insight

into how they socialize and perceived themselves within the
classroom.
Twenty-first Century Students
students do not really have a gender bias and are not
discriminatory towards one another.
Preschool Dynamic
Conclusion
Thank You

What questions do you

have for me?