ERIC Number: EJ862181
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-8981
EISSN: N/A
Female Students' Perceptions about Gender-Role Stereotypes and Their Influence on Attitude toward Physical Education
Constantinou, Phoebe; Manson, Mara; Silverman, Stephen
Physical Educator, v66 n2 p85-96 Spr 2009
Why girls' participation in physical education (PE) dramatically changes once girls reach middle school has been of interest to many researchers. Studying how middle school girls perceive things at this age helps ensure a greater understanding of how to better meet girls' needs. The purpose of this study was to determine how middle school girls perceive their PE teachers' gender-role expectations and how these perceptions affect the girls' participation in and attitudes toward physical education. Qualitative data collection methods were utilized for the study, including observations and formal and informal interviews. This study conducted in-depth interviews with twenty 7th- and 8th-grade girls in a midsize suburban middle school. The girls were observed twice during their 45-minute PE class along with their PE teachers, who were informally interviewed directly after each observation. To develop themes and commonalities, the data from the interviews and observation field notes were analyzed. The themes that emerged from the participants' responses and the observations are that (a) the teachers' primary expectations for girls and boys were to increase effort and participation in PE, (b) girls hold gender-role stereotypes, and (c) a competitive atmosphere and peers' behavior influence girls' participation in and attitude toward physical education. Furthermore, the girls participating in the study perceived themselves as athletically equal to their male peers and called themselves "athletic" and "competitive." However, the primary factors impacting the girls' participation in and attitude toward PE and competitive sports were the girls' perceptions of what constitutes a safe environment and what constitutes a safe sport.
Descriptors: Physical Education, Student Attitudes, Females, Middle School Students, Attitude Measures, Sex Role, Gender Issues, Stereotypes, Grade 7, Grade 8, Interviews, Observation, Student Participation, Competition, Educational Environment, Suburban Schools
Phi Epsilon Kappa Fraternity. 901 West New York Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Tel: 317-637-8431; Web site: http://www.phiepsilonkappa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 7; Grade 8; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A