Study Says Elementary Schools Support Gender Stereotypes

Parents may have noticed this over the years, but now a report out of Rhode Island says elementary schools are supporting gender stereotypes through activities for students.

The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union looked into a number of schools and the types of activities they schedule for boys and girls. And their study found that most activities were geared towards "antiquated gender norms."

For example, girl's events at nearly all of the 40 elementary schools studied were dances, pajama parties, yoga nights or crafts.

For boys, events included magic and science shows, trips to sporting events and trampoline parks, laser tag nights, arcade games and bowling.

Clearly a very stereotypical division there.

As the report says, Rhode Island schools seems to be unintentionally supporting stereotypes even as they educate girls in science, technology, engineering and math. The education department is said to be looking into the report's findings and offering guidance to schools if necessary.

So are you a parent of an elementary school aged child? Have you noticed similar gender lines in the activities or events at your kids school? Think the findings of this study should be addressed?