Classroom attitudes promote stereotype of women

In her NSL class, sophomore Nolan Burke's teacher assigns a brainstorming project. The teacher says that someone needs to be the recorder, and Burke's group of mostly boys looks in her direction. "I guess I'll get out some paper," she says.

Burke's situation is typical of hundreds of classrooms, as girls are stereotyped for neatness, organization and good handwriting. While having orderly habits seems like a positive stereotype, it prolongs an attitude of inequality detrimental towards women's progress.

Thirty-three years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against sex discrimination in the workplace, women still only make an average of 80 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office. Only 14 female U.S. Senators serve in Congress, and only eight of the Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs.

If girls find themselves in the "recorder" position consistently, they are being trained to work in passive roles, not leadership ones. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, about three in four women work in administrative support or managerial or clerical work. In the workplace, CEOs are looking for "go-getters," people willing to be part of the team. Society rewards these people, a role women are not being prepared for.

Many female and male Blazers alike would argue that the stereotype is outdated. According to one freshman: "Usually [the girl] is a lot more organized and neat; she's just better at that than me." Unfortunately, women seem to be "better" at a lot of things in addition to taking notes: cooking, washing clothes, taking care of children. This stereotype makes it hard for women to reach their full potential in the workplaceæif both women and men know the women are "better" at making coffee, they are more likely to do it. In an office, these trivial tasks then get put on the women, handicapping and labeling them.

High school is not the training ground for future secretaries or passive listeners with good organizational skills. Women should assert themselves to become skilled and organized leaders in a "man's world." Senior Cassandra Assefa says, "I'm sick and tired of being the one who takes the notes, does all the written work, turns it in, deals with the grade and takes responsibility for all the administration of the project." Next time, make your feelings clear and demand respectæyou're good for more than providing school supplies.