While in class on Thursday, I discussed Jane Elliot's "Blue Eyes" Experiment. Below is a link to that experiment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeK759FF84s
The Blue Eyes Experiment challenged the perceptions of a white majority, forcing students of the privileged class to see the discrimination and prejudice from the other side. Students with blue eyes were made "privileged" and told that they were better than brown eyed people. Blue eyed students got five minutes extra of recess, while brown eyed students were not allowed to go outside of the class during recess, and also could not use the drinking fountain or play with blue eyed children. By doing this, Jane Elliot was able to make her class realize the full extent of discriminatory behavior. As the students moved through the day, Jane noticed that the blue eyed students performed at or above their average potential, while the brown eyed students under performed and did poorly.
In the current climate where women are told they are lesser, and that they are not "built" for math and science, they often under perform. When standards are lowered, it is more often than not the norm for students to under perform due to their own lessening expectations of themselves. Only by promoting a climate in which all students of any gender can feel like they are equal can students succeed.
This is very true. In education classes, we are taught no matter what kind of students we have to always set the bar high. This way, kids can see their potential and want to preform up to the teacher's expectations. If the teacher sets the bar low, the students preform as they are treated. Positive motivation is essential in the classroom. As we know in this scenario brain size does not matter, but due to this perceived notion there is negativity. We know very well that both sexes are capable, and it is a shame that such negativity exist. Positive motivation leads to positive results.
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