I grew up mostly going to co-ed schools, but I was in a single gender school from grades one to three. Since I was quite young and it was only for three years, I personally didn’t really feel like there was much of a difference at the time, despite coming from a co-ed kindergarten. In hindsight, it was actually quite different.
Everyone’s experience is different. Depending on whether the kids already have other siblings who are of the opposite gender, being in a co-ed school can really teach them about the other gender. While we shouldn’t really stereotype genders, there are certainly personality traits that are prevalent in certain genders, although most of the time it’s due to the parents’ way of raising them due to societal norms. That said, kindergarteners aren’t mentally developed enough to really know what the difference is between the genders, or care about the difference. I remember asking my mom about why girls have to wear skirts and boys have to wear pants for our uniforms, and she said that was just how it was, and I shrugged and went about my day.
My primary school has a secondary school, and it was all single-gendered. I didn’t find any problems with it. I suppose it actually made some things easier, like changing for gym class or going to washrooms. As kids go through puberty, co-ed schools allow us to see the changes in the opposite gender. Conservative or religious schools may see this as a problem, as that usually triggers an interest in sex. It’s also the time children become increasingly aware of the difference in genders, and it makes them self-conscious. In single gender schools, they can be more comfortable with the changes happening to their bodies, since everyone around them is going through the exact same phases. They also don’t have to worry about what the opposite gender thinks of them.
At the same time, if children only attend single gender schools and do not have siblings of the opposite gender, they may find themselves scared or unable to communicate effectively when interacting with the opposite gender once they’re forcibly thrown into a co-ed environment, such as university or once they start working. Most humans could adapt to such situations eventually, but people who are a bit shy or socially awkward may find it extremely difficult to do so.
I believe all-girl schools could be beneficial in raising girls to be strong and independent individuals who celebrate their femininity while knowing that they’re every bit as capable as their male counterparts. In a co-ed school, students are more likely to assign stereotypical gender roles, and those who don’t fit the mold may find themselves being made fun of or even bullied. For example, this could happen to guys who aren’t athletic or are soft-spoken, as well as girls who don’t like skirts or aren’t interested in make-up or gossip. Some may find themselves unwillingly complying with the “norm” in order to fit in. Single gender schools basically re-assign those gender norms within their gender, so it’s less “boys vs. girls” and more like a spectrum between what are viewed as being masculine and feminine qualities. Certainly, it’d be ignorant and irresponsible to say that kids don’t get bullied for being different, as they unfortunately do, but I think there’s a bit more tolerance when they’re surrounded by the same gender.
In the end, it’s difficult to say which is better or worse, but there may be benefits to experiencing both so that kids can celebrate their own gender as well as appreciate all genders.
Loki
Vocabulary
norm (n) – an accepted standard or way of behaving or doing things that most people agree with
shrug (v) – to raise your shoulders and then lower them to show indifference or uncertainty
go about (v) – to do something, usually something that is part of a routine
puberty (n) – the stage in people’s lives when they develop from a child into an adult because of changes in their body that make them able to have children
catalyze (v) – to make something start to happen
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