Gender changes the way teaching or leading happens. When it is a group of women alone, as far as I've noticed, there is a sort of informality in the discussion, women tend to relax more often when surrounded by just other women. Contrary to this, when men are involved in the discussion, women feel the need to compete to be equal and/or better than the men. It tends to make a more heated discussion because of the competition between the opposite genders. It's not always this way, but as far as I've witnessed, it is.
As far as variating teaching styles go, there is a difference in how you teach to men and women and how you teach to just women. As previously mentioned, there is a sense of informality and also a sense of comfort than is not there with a co-ed class.
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Hi Liz,
ReplyDeleteSame thing I asked Amber, do you think that Chatham, a women's college, adequately prepares you for leading a group of men? As you've noticed (and will continue to notice), women tend to be more involved in discussions when they are in a setting with other women. So, like I asked Amber, when you get out into the "real world" and are leading discussions with women AND men, do you think that you will be as involved? Does Chatham teach this? Just something to think about. . .
Liz,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think influences the differences in gender related to leadership? Socialization, internal expectations, external pressures, etc?
Sarah