Feminism and a boys' school seem to be antithetical. We educate boys and so many people might question why this is a valid investigation to do. I would argue that this kind of research is fundamental to the survival of all-boys' schools like Gilman. For Gilman to not only allow me to conduct this kind of research, but to be excited about it is one of the most important aspects of my research because I have been supported every step of the way. Gilman has proven that it is committed to educating the whole boy in mind, body, and spirit in a way that is forward thinking and open to diverse schools of thought and pedagogy. While I chose to work within the feminist frameworks, it is important that schools allow teachers to engage more fully with other frameworks that will help students create important meaning-making filters and perspectives for their lives. Doing this kind of work is important for all-boys' schools because we have a duty to dismantle the masculinity that prevents our boys from being their whole, true selves. Boys need to see women in positions of power and authority, they need to be able to rationalize seeing women as role models, and they need to see women as equal to men so that they might become allies in the enduring struggle for equity and inclusion. We are educating the young people who will go out into the world and change it for the better, so we need to give them all of the skills necessary to be able to relate to everyone that the will meet throughout their lives. |
You can see my entire bibliography here.
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