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Home School Controversy

Gender Roles and Homeschooling

Is homeschooling sexist? Kind of a weird question and maybe it wasn't one of the first that popped up in your mind, but when we talk about homeschooling controversy, this is one of the topics that people are talking about.

By homeschooling are we showing our children specific gender roles that will shape them in their future lives as employers, spouses, and parents. When I was growing up, my mother always told me that I could do and be anything I wanted. I wonder if she ever had in mind that this would be giving up my career aspirations and homeschooling my children.

The debaters say we need to be aware of what we are teaching our children through homeschooling and the roles the mother and father play. Its common knowledge that when choosing to homeschool, most of the time, the mother is the one that quits her job to stay at home to be the teacher, encourager, mom, and nurse. What does this teach our children? Maybe we like what it teaches them, maybe we don't, but whether you are involved in this controversy or not, it's a good question to ask yourself and think about.

Will our sons grow up to think that a women's place is in the home? Will our daughters grow up to think they are striving only for marriage, kids, and a homeschooling lifestyle? Will our daughters grow up to think that they have unlimited potential? Will our sons be able to work with women in the workplace in a fair matter when their only example of a woman is their homeschooling mother? What are our future daughter and son-in-laws in for?

I won't even try to take sides on this argument, but only leave you with some of the thoughts above. There are good things that can come out of some of these controversial homeschooling issues, THINKING. If anything, sometimes it brings to your mind things that you have not considered yet and good can always come out of this, no matter which "side" you choose!

Carol Currie

Carol Currie is highly active in the homeschooling community and is the author of several homeschool e-books that guide parents through the process of homeschooling.


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