Comparative Study of Students and Teachers Gender Equality Perception in Elementary Schools

Abstract

Objectives: Today, there arc no differences in opportunities between genders to enter the school, but unequal education is still happening because of paternalism. Moreover. teachers are not prepared enough to teacher gender equality to their students. This study is to assess the perception of elementary students and their teachers regarding gender equality to develop education programs to improve their perception of gender equality. Methods: The self-reported questionnaire is based on the Korean Gender Equalitarianism Scale for adult and adolescents published by the Korean Women Development Institute and was used to assess the perception of gender equality. The subjects were 594 students enrolled in 5th and 6th grades and 110 teachers of elementary schools in Seoul, Korea. The data was collected from Mar. 1 to May 30, 2004. Results: Teachers had significantly lower scores in the section of school life than students. However, students had lower scores in home and social life. The female students had significantly higher scores than male ones and students who learned sexual education from father higher scores than those who didn’t. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to differentiate the level of studying by male and female students about sex education. Teachers’ gender equality perception would affect on student’s gender equality perception, so they must be educated well before they teach to their students as well as their parents.