Comments on: Segregating the Sexes

By: Zack

Zack — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:27:15 +0000

One thing to consider is that may this is not a black/white all-or-nothing issue. Gender segregation could be helpful for touchy social issues like sexual or social development, where the presence of the other gender could hinder participation because of fear of humiliation, there are other places where such segregation actually reinforces problems, such as sexism, misogyny, aggression, and negative stereotypes because the two genders are not allowed to socialize with each other, and so 1)the myths that cause the above problems are allowed to propagate and 2) because there is a primary emphasis on segregating by gender, there is no argument being made to see each other as people.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:49:37 +0000

As a college-age girl, I have to say that the best classes I’ve ever had (high school and college) have been those with roughly similar numbers of girls and boys. The two things these classes shared were a small class size and an excellent teacher, and in the end, I think that matters a lot more than gender segregation. These were all debate-based courses, and I felt that the debate would not have been nearly so interesting had there not been both the male and the female perspective–however, maybe there is something to teaching math and science in segregated classrooms. Ultimately, it seems like a scheduling nightmare to me, whether or not it’s had success in some locations.

By: Steph Bergman

Steph Bergman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:37:28 +0000

I attended an all-girls school from 5-12 grade, and I actually appreciated it. I felt much freer to state my opinion or to say the right answer in class than when I was in a co-ed environment. Of course there were still bullies, people who hogged class-time, jocks, and anti-social people, but without boys there, several other girls and I didn’t care as much what others thought of us. During lunchtime, there was no feeling of “Oh, I shouldn’t be eating this cookie, I’ll get fat”; people just ate what they did, acted how they liked, and no one thought anything of it. While my school definitely could have done a better job with creating opportunities for both sexes to socially interact, I really do believe the single-sex environment I was in allowed me to form a strong sense of self and to realize what’s important in my life before I headed off to a co-ed college and work life.

However, the very fact that I felt freer in a single-sex environment to speak my mind than I did in a co-ed environment really says something about our society. From where did I learn to care what boys think of me (my appearance, actions, personality, etc.)? Why should that matter? Therefore, I think single-sex education is only a band-aid for a gaping wound that schools and our entire society must address. If both sexes are raised to consider the other equal, then I think single-sex education would not be needed.

By: Dante

Dante — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:14:00 +0000

I really agree with Justin. It’d be perfect if it wasn’t by sex, but by the student’s gender identity.

By: Blake Helgoth

Blake Helgoth — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:41:35 +0000

I used to be a youth minister for a large Catholic parish. We segregated the kids for small groups and as much as poosible on retreats. It was far more effective. We even had men’s and women’s sessions that went more into depth with gender specific issues. It cut way back on the flirting, they paid more attention and they were more open to disscussion. It was not a popular idea and it was new to the parish, but it works. There is no reason to through that many hormones together and hope for the best. Teach the boys to honor the women and the ladies to honor the boys. Let them spend soem time together, but very limited and very supervised. Seems like a no brianer, but maybe the sociologist would preffer we operate with no brains.

By: Kadi

Kadi — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:32:39 +0000

This is crap! First off i found this website while researching for a persuasive essay about how segregating by gender is unacceptable and this has agrivated me thoroughly. First off, I compete at everything! i thrive on competition and one of the reasons that i do so well in school is to accell over the guys. Also, most of the girls in my classes groan everytime a teacher says to sit and listen. Men came up with the idea to sit quiet and listen to lectures so don’t say that this style of learning is beneficial to women. Second, the whole distraction thing is the individual’s problem, not everyone elses. (Checking the other sex out in school is half the fun!) You might think that I’m failing classes or struggling because of this, but I am a straight A student, compete in math and knowledge competitions(placing in all of these), and still excel in sports. Thirdly, I like to move around rather than sitting all day in class; it’s not just the guys. I may be more quiet and conceeded, but thats because I respect my elders and understand when the appropriate time is to have fun and be stupid(which is obviously not at school). Finally, if guys think that girls in school are demoting their manhood, then go be manly on your own time. You don’t have to become a girl to listen and respect them and teachers. Guys might think it’s annoying that girls aren’t as competitive or roudy, but I hate it when guys make perverted comments and think it’s funny. If the classes were segregated, I can guarantee that these comments would be stated more often and respect for women would plummet which shouldn’t necessarily take a backseat to education. Seperating genders could even give kids that segregating in general is an okay idea whereas it is completely wrong as we have already established with African Americans in our history. Hopefully, whoever reads this will understand where I am coming from and actually consider what segregation will do.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:16:23 +0000

Ok here’s the thing, what the heck guys!!!the people that say girls can’t understand stuff as well and we can’t comprehend stuff, well it’s ridiculous! Girls are competitive too and can kick butt any day! we love to compete!In fact i usually like to compete against all sexes just so i can see how i compare to everyone! and as for academics, one of my great friends is the smartest and leading in every academic competion and have three other girls following her for it. Although the guys are doing well it still proves that we can understand stuff just as well. Also, alot my guy friends come to me for advice on a daily bases because i actually understand their situations more throughly. Again on the competition, alot of the girls are amazing at sports and work just as hard. I do alot guy sports too along with a couple other girls and we play guy teams and still whoop them. All of the guys that treat girls with disrespect…newsflash!you’ll never get a awesome girl with that additude!gosh all we want is to be treated with respect and not be treated like less than some guy. School sex segregation is a joke! if guys can’t consintrate cause they just can’t help staring!it’s happened to everyone!that doens’t mean we should all go homeschooling cause after finding out that a while of same sex class, the guys won’t no what to do without someone to hit on, they’ll start hitting on eachother! and yes i think this is just weird that girls aren’t as cool as guys even crosses peoples mind!the guys need to just realize girls can be just as good, tough, smart, competive, and much else as guys.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:06:03 +0000

segregation is wrong. Guys have no right to push girls around and tell girls that they are better than us. you don’t see the girls going around telling other girls how much guys suck at different things. Sure of course boys are most of the time better at football than girls……. but how many boys are amazing at cheerleading… not as many as girls……. This is personally very dumb, men do not have anymore rights than women. They should just learn to respect women. It is proven that girls are smarter than other males….and also states that women tend to succeed farther in their career……which just proves to show that women have a better chance of succeedingn and deserve a higher level of respect. Many of the teachers are also females which just shows also that men have some of their own problems that they can’t handle… like girls!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:53:31 +0000

As a teacher, I can tell you boys and girls learn differenlty at different rates. The biological evidence is clear: the male and female brains develop in unique ways–especially in the early years. In addition, the sexes thrive in different social and emotional environments. The main reason we don’t provide single-sex education anymore is money (big shock). It costs a lot more to provide single sex education (busses, schools, programs etc.) than to run massive, overcrowded co-ed schools.

For more infor on why same-sex education is best go to http://www.singlesexschools.org.

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:05:56 +0000

I see 2 problems with segregating by learning style:
1. People do not fall as cleanly into one learning style category or another as they do gender. I wish to not be put in a learning style box, whereas I am fine with the male box, so long as that box _accurately_ describes strengths, weaknesses, and primary roles of males. I fit well into that box, though I do not fit the _stereotypical_ male box.
2. There are more learning styles than there are genders, depending on how you count them (3 or more, usually?).

Segregating by gender treats individuals as individuals better than no segregation at all because such segregation _does recognize_ the maleness or femaleness of the students, with all they entail–with all they contribute to the individual. Theoretically, segregating by person (i.e. one-student classrooms) would be the ultimate recognition of individuality, but that would cost too much $, eh?

I think a healthy balance of co-ed and segregated is good.

By: Stephaine

Stephaine — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:08:33 +0000

Okay, so let’s not stop at segregating by gender. How about by learning styles. All of the female visual/verbal learners here, female tactile/kinesthetic learners here, and so on and so on. Once these children are out of school the work environment will NOT be segregated. Are we really doing anyone a favor? Seems to me that we are going backwards. Really, males of low-income families learn differently than males of high-income families. Most males in low-income families are minorities. Haven’t we already been there?

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:06:17 +0000

Separation by “learning style” would likely be best accomplished by separation by gender as that is probably a more reliable indicator of “learning style” than any test likely to be administered, not to imply that “learning style” has anything to do with it.

I remember being a forth grade boy in a class room intended for forth grade girls. The format of the instruction was totally irrelevant because no boy in forth grade should ever be expected to be able to stay awake much less pay attention when made to sit still for hours long stretches, especially not when teacher (and I’ve met the sort of people that become teachers in college – they’re not bright) turns the lights off under the premise that it will cool the room.

Separating class rooms by gender is an excellent idea.

People hung up on treating students individually have obviously given no thought to the practicality of setting policy in a school.

Furthermore, the idea that children who struggle to keep up are the only ones that need additional attention is grossly wrong. Smart kids endure a damaging amount of boredom in school.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:32:53 +0000

I have to ask–what happened to treating people as INDIVIDUALS instead of their ethnicity, gender, etc.?

I was impressed with this site at first–until I delved into the archives. Disappointing.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:29:33 +0000

The thing is, school isn’t just about grades. School is a chance for children to learn to socialize and come into contact, as well work with, a wide variety of people. If you seperate children because of gender, they lose out on valuable lessons in interacting with the opposite sex.

Perhaps it would be better to look at how subjects are taught and more time should be given to individual pupils who are struggling.

By: gender segregation in high school in america study

gender segregation in high school in america study — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:01:21 +0000

[...] of private and religious schools. Here we explore the role of gender differences in education…http://artofmanliness.com/2008/03/04/segregating-the-sexes/Fear of a Black-Planned EdThis is a longer version of an article published inVue Weekly in the week [...]