How Gender Stereotype in Education Impact Female Students’ Development in Secondary School

Abstract

Currently, gender equality has gained considerable development across the world. However, gender issues did not really disappear. Gender bias and gender discrimination still widely exist in society and the field of education. The achievement of gender equality will always be an unavoidable key issue in education. Because secondary school students are in a critical stage of socialization, the educational environment can readily influence their gender preconceptions. Finding gender stereotypes that harm secondary school girls is crucial for reducing their effects. The research on gender stereotype of female teenagers in the secondary school setting is reviewed in this paper. By analyzing research done previously, the author aims to determine the effect of gender stereotypes on female adolescents’ development. This paper summarizes stereotypes from three aspects: the family, the school and society. Females were likely to grow up with negative influences from the three perspectives above, resulting in lower self-confidence and more mental health problems, hence catering to a rigid social identity rather than choosing a future path based on their interests and abilities. The findings highlight that educators, parents and public media need to support both male and female students in all academic areas.