ERIC Number: EJ1442674
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1357-3322
EISSN: EISSN-1470-1243
Understanding Gender Disproportion and Influences on Subject Choice in Physical Health Education: A British Columbia High School Case Study
April St. Louis; Manu Sharma
Sport, Education and Society, v29 n9 p1167-1178 2024
The aim of this qualitative case study is to examine the phenomenon of female students' disproportionate representation in senior level Physical Health Education (PHE) classes. The subject for this teacher's Masters level project arose from the first author's personal observations while teaching across several schools in British Columbia, Canada. Through semi-structured interviews with self-identified female participants, we explore female subject choice and if, along with possible reasons why, females may avoid participation in senior level (grade 11-12) mixed gender PHE activity courses. This discussion asserts that females mostly make conscious choices to avoid mixed gender courses at the senior level for several key reasons; females feel silenced by their male peers, PHE is not an inclusive environment, and females perceive their male counterparts assert dominance over them in PHE class. This paper continues with a discussion regarding reinforced gendered norms and their effect on perceived barriers to female participation in schools, and concludes with suggestions for how schools and educators might support female students' participation.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, High School Students, Females, Grade 9, Grade 10, Physical Health, Physical Fitness, Body Composition, Nutrition Instruction, Gender Discrimination, Health Education, Gender Issues, Course Selection (Students)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 9; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Grade 10
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A