Gender Perspective, Reconstruction of Curriculum Contents and Students Participation

Abstract

This article describes about the meaning and process for the students to learn on gender issue. The current research defined that in adolescence girls undergo a mental conflict between their ideal self-image and the stereotyped feminine image which man expects and that it is difficult for girls to get gender identity with self-esteem. They need a opportunity for learning on gender issue and seeking self. The purposes of the study were to identify the mechanism of sexism and the concept of gender through feminist theory, and the process which students will be capable of looking critically at their world and come to new awareness of self and society through learning on gender issue in class with analyzing and interpreting Kazuko Yoshida's class practices in public high school. As a result, the following three points were found; 1 , Gender is cultural construction, which has justified "patriarchy" and it has been formed by "man made concepts" and division to public domain for man and personal domain for woman in modern times, and woman and child are under the control of man. 2 . Reconstruction of curriculum contents needs minority perspective such as woman. 3. Learning on gender issue needs interactive communication among human subjects in class through which students can found "patriarchy" in family as gendered domain and gradually perceive their personal and social reality and deal critically with it.