David Sadker

Gender Bias in Teacher Education Texts New (and Old) Lessons

This content analysis investigated the treatment of gender in 23 teacher education textbooks published between 1998 and 2001. Given the decades of research documenting the impact of gender bias in schools, the authors anticipated stronger, fairer texts than those analyzed 20 years ago. Clearly, there has been progress, but it is minimal. Introductory/foundation texts provide slightly more than 7% of content to gender issues; methods texts average little more than 1%. Although a commitment to gender fairness is verbalized in several of these texts, specific resources and strategies to achieve that goal are often absent. Inadequate, stereotypic, and even inaccurate treatment of gender is commonplace. Tomorrow’s teachers may learn the importance of verbalizing support for equity without the expectation that they can actually help make it a reality.

Continuing the Journey Toward Gender Equity

Many contributors to this article started their journey to increase gender equity in education around 1972, when federal Title IX legislation was passed. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. This article discusses progress and future possibilities for additional useful research. After reviewing relevant goals, we address equity issues in the areas of the education workforce; student educational attainment and career achievement; formal curricula (including content and testing); and informal curricula (including classroom interaction, single-sex environments, sexuality, and family and child care issues). Although there has been progress in attaining equity goals in some of these areas, we conclude that there are many continuing inequities that merit exploration and resolution by educational researchers and practitioners. Additionally, there is a need for more systematic development of a comprehensive research and development agenda and a supportive national infrastructure to fund, promote, deliver, and achieve gender equity in education.

An Educator's Primer on the Gender War

Reframing gender equity to include boys could result in making schools fairer and more humane environments for all students.

Pioneering Gender Equity in Education: A Love Story

My new wife Myra had been busily washing the floor when she eyed me sleeping peacefully on the couch. As she washed, she marvelled at how I could sleep through the noise, commotion and splashing sounds she was making. Her wonder matured, simmered, and morphed into action; that’s when a pail of less than pristine water forever changed my life.

Create Schools That Cherish Individual Differences

Sexism still restricts the options for both boys and girls.