Introduction
In this chapter students learned about the concepts of sex, gender, and gender identity, as well as the inequalities people sometimes experience based on their gender. The gender socialization of children begins immediately, from the time they are born, and the consequences of this early socialization can be lifelong. The differences in the gender socialization of boys and girls in school significantly impacts their academic success in certain subjects and affects which subjects they choose to pursue as their future careers. In this activity students will take a closer look at the causes and consequences of gender socialization in schools.

Lesson Description
Students will visit a Web site that discusses the effects of gender socialization on the achievements of boys and girls in mathematics, science, and computers. The article examines the many different ways in which girls and boys are socialized from a very young age toward society's pre-established sex roles. After answering several questions about the article, students will write action plans for teachers and administrators of primary schools on gender socialization.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will be able to describe how gender socialization influences the educational experience of males and females.
2. Students will be able to explain why male socialization favors them in future math and science undertakings.
3. Students will be able to postulate solutions for more equitable gender socialization.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. By playing with action toys, boys learn mathematical concepts—velocity, angles, three-dimensional configuration—and to be comfortable in a physical world. Later, they can transfer these skills to math concepts and can visualize math processes. Girls lose out on some of this experiential base when they are not encouraged in the active, physical world.
2. Females place most emphasis on mutual support and the building of collaborative knowledge, while male priority is on individual expertise and the presentation and debate around abstract concepts.
3. Whether or not a student likes a class is based in part on the student's feelings of success in the class—both academic achievements and felt experiences. The belief that a subject has utility for a student's life is another factor that influences the like or dislike of a subject.
4. From birth females are socialized against risk-taking and exploring the world around them and are given toys that encourage relational or nurturing activities, while boys are given toys that encourage motor skills and spatial visualization. Child care providers responded to children's attempts to communicate differently based on their own sex role beliefs. A study found that in preschool girls were socialized to assume a less aggressive role in conversation.
5. Students' action plans will vary.

Go To Student Web Activity