1. What are your thoughts pro and con) about single-sex schools?

I went through co-ed elementary, middle, and high school. The only single-sex class I had was 5th grade health when the girls were taught about changes in their bodies so we wouldn’t be embarrassed with boys in the class. In middle school, we went through basically the same classes but we were co-ed so boys had the opportunity to learn about female anatomy and what we went through, and females learned about male anatomy and the basics of conception. Don’t you think it’s important that a man knows what his female significant other endures each month? I can’t imagine having been separated from males in school. 

I work in a male-dominated environment and I don’t know if an all-girls only education would have prepared me for the current position I find myself in. I am of the strong opinion that schools should be co-ed because it prepares you for the real world. Additionally, if males are taught in a different manner than girls, who’s to say one or the other is getting the better end of the deal? If boys are taught in a more competitive manner, this sets them up to be competitive in the workplace. If girls are taught in a softer, less competitive manner, then she might not seem as high charging in the workplace and lose out on promotional opportunities. 

Psychology professor Diane F. Halpern says, “School is preparation for adult life. How can boys and girls learn how to interact as equals in the workplace if they have no experience interacting as equals in school?” (Novotney, 2011).

Some of the literature alluded to the idea that boys and girls learn differently. Isn’t that what the honor levels are for? You place the students who are gifted in honors classes, and if that happens to be all female or all male, then so be it, but at least it’s based off merit rather than sex.

2. What are your thoughts about the changes in athletics in educational settings brought about by Title IX? If you believe further changes need to be made, please explain.

This may be an unpopular response but I wonder about the legalities of transgender athletes participating in elite sports like the Olympics. Laurel Hubbard is a transgender woman who competed in weightlifting for New Zealand in the Tokyo Olympics (Izquierdo, 2021). Scientifically, males are stronger and faster because of testosterone levels and body makeup i.e. muscle (Geggel, 2017). Does this not give Hubbard a leg up (no pun intended)? According to another NBC News article on Hubbard, there’s “no clear scientific evidence that proves that testosterone increases athletic performance for elite athletes” (Yurcaba, 2021). Ultimately she didn’t complete her lifts and left without a medal so maybe sex doesn’t matter (Ellingworth & Ho, 2021). Like I said, I wonder because I don’t know.

Laurel Hubbard (Associated Press, 2021)

Otherwise, I think Title IX is a complete game changer and I don’t think I’d be comfortable in the male-dominated work environment I’m in if not for the changes brought about by Title IX.

Associated Press. (2021, June 20). Laurel Hubbard to become first transgender athlete competing at Olympics. Sports Net. https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/article/watch-day-15-blondins-back-three-canadian-men-halfpipe/

Ellingworth, J., & Ho, S. (2021, August 2). Transgender weightlifter Hubbard makes history at Olympics. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-weightlifting-laurel-hubbard-e721827cdaf7299f47a9115a09c2a162

Geggel, L. (2017, May 27). Why do men run faster than women? Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/59289-why-men-run-faster-than-women.html

Izquierdo, S. (2021, July 26). First openly transgender Olympians are competing in Tokyo. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/first-openly-transgender-olympians-are-competing-tokyo-rcna1507

Novetney, A. (2011, February). Coed verus single-sex ed. American Psychological Association, 42(2), 58. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/coed

Yurcaba, J. (2021, July 19). With Olympics’ backing, Laurel Hubbard will be first trans athlete in games’ history. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/olympics-backing-laurel-hubbard-will-first-trans-athlete-games-history-rcna1454

Skylar:

1. What are your thoughts (pro and con) about single-sex schools?

Personally, my thoughts concerning single-sex schools involve the voluntary aspect of it. One rule for single-sex schools to be permitted is that attendance is voluntary (UMGC 2022). Therefore, people are not forced to go to schools that are separated. However, the downside with that is parents may influence their children to go to single-sex schools and it may not be completely voluntary in the childs eyes. More specifically, another pro I see about single-sex schools is that they can allow for a more relaxed environment, where there is no gendered pressure to behave, dress, or perform a certain way. However, I see more cons than pros concerning separating people based on their gender for education. For example, single-sex schools can reinforce ideas of segregation and gendered stereotypes relating to how boys and girls should learn, behave, and activities they involve themselves in (UMGC 2022). As well, single-sex schools dont prepare children for real-life scenarios when they have to work, learn, and interact with every gender, not just their own. 

2. What are your thoughts about the changes in athletics in educational settings brought about by Title IX? If you believe further changes need to be made, please explain.

Title IX has brought about many positive changes for athletics in educational settings. These changes include more female athletes participating in sports, influencing womens ability to pursue male-dominated careers, positively affecting the hiring and salaries for females, as well as, those who identify as non-binary. However, despite many positive advancements that Title XI has brought, the main concern is the meaning of sex used in the regulation. As mentioned in the learning resource sex is questioned whether, In the eyes of the law is sex based upon anatomy at birth, or ones sense of being male or female. or neither? (UMGC 2022). Moving forward, the change that needs to be started is defining what the term sex includes and how this affects people who are not cisgender and are non-binary gender. For those who are transgender, as well, how Title XI appeals to these individuals and what it means for them concerning sports when they are transitioning, should be deeply considered and made clear.

References:

UMGC. (2022). Gendered communication in educational settings. https://learn.umgc.edu/d2l/le/content/623647/viewContent/25070455/View