Investigation of the Experiences of Classroom Teacher Candidates in the Reconstruction of Gender Role: A Case Study in Turkey

Abstract

This research, examining the perception of classroom teacher candidates about the gender equality through the personal experiences of the teacher candidates, is a qualitative study. The phenomenological pattern was adopted. Data were collected in two stages: The participants were asked to provide written responses to the open-ended questions for clarifying which concepts are used for explaining the gender equality, which factors cause the gender inequality and how the equality will be ensured. Next, focus group discussion was carried to find the situations that the classroom teacher candidates encountered in their learning process. The results reveal that the role of men and women, generated by the cultures of different societies but the individuals should have equal rights and opportunities and every kind of discrimination about sex should be prevented. The causes of inequality: Socialization, social roles. The factors causes the inequality are the religious beliefs, prejudices, patriarchy. For the equality, it is necessary to raise awareness, the roles in the family should be re-arranged and women employment should be supported. The results of the focus group discussion announced that biological gender was effective in choosing the profession: Men were more successful in professions working with numbers and producing some concrete products, while the women should be employed in professions that would guarantee the emotional and physical security. Women are successful in the management because of their maternal roles and they attach a great importance to details and organization. However, the governance, in other words, the power is the men's specialty.