Ejournal Entry # 5

Gender-sensitive educational materials

It is important for students’ educational progress to create a teaching environment that respects men and women equally. Providing a workplace or any educational institution with a proper gender sensitive instructional material could provide numbers of opportunities to any individual. In a classroom, it is important that the materials utilized promote equal treatment.

Gender-sensitive educational materials should depict both sexes in a balanced manner, as well as the various roles of the sexes and their interactions. Gender stereotypes and roles should be avoided in such teaching materials, and varied perspectives should be provided (Chukwidi et al., 2018).

Moreover, many educational resources, particularly older ones, may contain gender bias in activities, illustrations, or wording. Textbooks, photographs, reading materials, written assignments, and even test materials are examples of such things. Allowing pupils to use items like these in class can promote societal prejudices about gender roles. To be gender sensitive is defined as to reconsider socially established gender norms and aim to level this practice through certain conscious courses of action.

In order to have a better learning environment for the students and to avoid gender stereotyping, it is better for educational institutions to provide and implement a better gender sensitive instructional material.

The following are some of the guidelines which a gender sensitive instructional material should contain:

• Make certain that males and females are represented equally in class materials.
• The topics, subjects, and images presented in instructional materials should relate to the life experiences of both male and female students.
• Both male and female students are not shown in stereotypical ways.
• Make sure you use a diverse range of resources authored by both male and female authors.

It is important to provide students with a better learning environment to ensure that they get their quality education that they deserve.  The primary purpose of gender equality promotion is to create awareness and ensure that all individuals are treated equally and fairly. It is the time for us to help lessen and might as well end the gender stereotyping.

References

Chukwudi et al. (2018). Status of Teachers on Gender-Sensitive Instructional Materials at the Basic Retrieved from Education Level https://arcnjournals.org/images/ijaaer-13-3-2.p

McManis, Lilla Dale. (November 20, 2017). Inclusive Education: What It Means, Proven Strategies, and a Case Study. [Blog Post].  Retrieved from Inclusive Education.

Susan P. & Jenkins J. (1995). Producing Gender Sensitive Learning Materials: A Handbook for Educators. Retrieved from http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/98