SEX STEREOTYPING: IDENTIFYING AND CHANGING THE ROLE AND INFLUENCE OF SCHOOLS1

Schools are described as reflecting quite accurately for the most part the prevailing value system of the community and society. To the extent that sex stereotyping is a part of our culture, it is a part of our schools. It is reasonable to look to schools to eliminate the most obvious and glaring sex discriminatory practices and for them to abide by the law in these matters. However, the extent to which these kinds of changes are likely to alter the overall value system of the school and of students in the school will probably be minimal. It is argued that schools as organizations can only follow not lead and that change within must wait on change without. (Author) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH