Skip to main content

Gender Justice and the Mathematics Curriculum: Four Perspectives

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Science & Technology Education Library ((STEL,volume 2))

Abstract

The past two decades have seen a rapid increase in the attention paid to gender issues in school mathematics. This has occurred at the level of policy, research and practice. In this period, we have learned a lot and much has been achieved. Gender differences in achievement and participation in mathematics no longer are regarded as either natural or inevitable. Curriculum materials and assessment tasks are, at least, less overtly sexist and, indeed, they are often more consciously inclusive of what are perceived to be the experiences and concerns of girls. Many mathematics classrooms are considerably more ‘friendly’ to girls than they once were — both in regard to the general pedagogical approach and in the way in which girls are treated. Many girls and boys are happy to assert that ‘everything is equal now’. Often their teachers and members of the general public also believe this, or even that the balance in education has swung in favour of girls and to the detriment of boys.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Brown, S. (1984). ‘The logic of problem generation: From morality and solving to de-posing and rebellion’, For the Learning of Mathematics 4(1), 9–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, P. (1991). ‘Gender, class, and subjectivity in mathematics: A critique of humpty dumpty’, For the Learning of Mathematics 11(1), 2–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema, E. (1993). ‘Justice, equity and mathematics education’, in E. Fennema and G. Leder (eds.) Mathematics and gender, Brisbane, University of Queensland Press, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema, E. & Leder, G. (eds.) (1993). Mathematics and gender, Brisbane, University of Queensland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jungwirth, H. (1991). ‘Interaction and gender-findings of a micro-ethnographical approach to classroom discourse’. Educational Studies in Mathematics (22), 263–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenway, J. & Willis, S. (with the Education of Girls Unit of South Australia) (1993). Telling tales: Girls and schools changing their ways, Canberra, Department of Employment, Education and Training.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenway J., Willis, S., Blackmore J. & Rennie L. (1991). ‘Studies of reception of gender reforms in schools’, in L. Rennie, L. Parker and G. Hildebrand (eds.), Action for equity: The second decade, Proceedings of the Sixth International GASAT Conference, Key Centre for School Science and Mathematics, Perth, Australia, Curtin University of Technology, 111–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, J. (1990, December). ‘Gender-inclusive curriculum: Some issues for professional development’, Paper presented at the Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Sydney, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mura, R. (1995). ‘Feminist theories underlying strategies for redressing gender imbalance in mathematics’, in P. Rogers and G. Kaiser (eds.), Equity in mathematics education: Influences of feminism and culture, London, Falmer Press, 155–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walkerdine, V. (1989). Counting girls out, London, Virago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, S. (1995a). ‘Gender reform through school mathematics’, in P. Rogers and G. Kaiser (eds.), Equity in mathematics education: Influences of feminism and culture, London, Falmer Press, 186–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, S. (1995b). ‘The mathematics profile: Removing the flaws’, in C. Collins (ed.), Curriculum stocktake: Evaluating school curriculum change, Canberra, Australian College of Education, 172–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, S. (1995c). ‘Mathematics: From constructing privilege to deconstructing myths’, in J. Gaskell and J. Willinsky (eds.), Gender in/forms curriculum: From enrichment to transformation, New York, Teachers College Press, 262–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, L. (1993). ‘The education of girls: Policy research and the question of gender’, Australian Education Review No. 35, Melbourne, Australian Council of Education Research.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Willis, S. (1996). Gender Justice and the Mathematics Curriculum: Four Perspectives. In: Parker, L.H., Rennie, L.J., Fraser, B.J. (eds) Gender, Science and Mathematics. Science & Technology Education Library, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0143-1_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0143-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-3582-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0143-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics