This quote is taken from the radical feminist, Carol Gilligan. I believe that it's not so much that women "think" differently then men, but women have different qualities then men. I believe that the majority of women possess a motherly way of acting. I don't think it's fair to say that women actually "think" differently then men do.
Women in education need to make sure that they don't "govern" their classroom by instinct and sympathy alone. It's more important for students to respect their teacher, rather then actually like them. There is an overwhelming amount of female educators in elementary schools in our country. How would students turn out differently if they were taught by male teachers at a younger age? Do we think that students would act differently based on the sex of their teacher? I personally believe that if students had more of a male influence in their elementary education experience, they would mature faster. I feel as if most male elementary school teachers wont be as nurturing as female elementary school teachers. I believe that women are just naturally more nurturing and sympathetic then men are.
I however, don't agree with the statement that women have their own way of thinking and knowing and reasoning. I think that is an extremely bold statement. I don't think that there are any two individuals in this world that would think, and reason in the same way. Therefore, I don't think that men and women "think" differently, I believe that all people think differently. We will never truly understand what another person is thinking.
Overall, I believe that women are generally more nurturing and sympathetic then most men. Not all men however, just most. I don't believe that men and women necessarily think differently, but I believe that ALL people think differently.
1 comment:
I got really frustrated when I read this section in the Woodford. While I do agree that men and women are quite different, to lump everyone under the titles "radical feminist" and the like seem so archaic. We are evaluated more on our actions and contributions, and not our gender. I think Woodford was trying to just expose a light on the kinds of teachers that implement their personal missions onto their students. No matter how valid their points may be, it's counter-intuitive to being a teacher. A teacher has to come into the classroom unbiased. Whatever they would like to do via journaling, conferencing, etc. outside of the classroom is their right and it is on their time. But the time we have in the classroom is to serve the students, not our own needs.
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