9.3 Gender Responsive Pedagogy
Gender responsive pedagogy refers to teaching and learning processes that pay attention to the specific learning needs of girls and boys (Mlama, 2005). Gender responsive pedagogy calls for teachers to take an integrated gender approach in the processes of lesson planning, teaching, classroom management and evaluation.
Gender responsive pedagogy includes gender neutral language use by the teacher. Inappropriate language use can transmit negative messages and inhibit learning. A boy or girl whose teacher constantly tells them “you are stupid”, will come to believe this to be true. Language can also reinforce gender differences and inequalities and in the classroom often reflects male dominance and reduces females to an inferior position. By contrast, a teacher can enhance students’ performance by using encouraging, inclusive language in the classroom.