Gender bias in Lebanese teachers' behaviors. (c2002)

Abstract

This study examines three issues related to gender bias in Lebanese teachers in their classrooms: teachers' awareness of gender bias, their pre/misconceptions of females' and males' abilities in the different areas and the measures that they are taking to counteract gender bias. Ten teachers (9 female and 1 male) from 3 schools were interviewed and 5 Civics classes in grades 4 and 5 were observed using an observation chart. The observations show that teachers do not convey gender bias behaviors in their classrooms. Results of the interviews indicate that a) teachers are not aware of the hidden gender bias in Lebanese classrooms, even though, they agree that inequality exists in the Lebanese society and b) colloquial Arabic language does not comprise of sexist syntax. Implications for teachers to counteract gender bias are included. A limitation of the study is the small number of participants. A larger sample is required to make the findings substantial.