Failing at Fairness: How America's Schools Cheat Girls [Hardcover]

Myra Sadker (Author), David Sadker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 1994

Chronicles studies that show how gender-biased education, often propagated by well-meaning teachers, affects the intellectual and social growth of girls and instructs how teachers and students can avoid this trap. 100,000 first printing. $60,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gender bias in the classroom from elementary to graduate school is the subject of this comprehensive examination by two professors of education at American University in Washington, D.C. As educators and parents, the Sadkers argue that "sexism sabotages girls at school," using studies, statistics and anecdotal histories of female students to demonstrate how girls and women are cheated out of opportunities to excel academically and deprived of chances to build self-esteem. While the Sadkers emphasize the educational shortchanging of girls, they see boys paying a price also, particularly those who do not fit gender stereotyping. This important study is a timely resource, since gender equity is currently an issue in fair-testing concerns of such standardized tests as the SAT for college admissions and scholarships.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

For 20 years the Sadkers (both education, American Univ.) have researched gender bias in American education and have presented their findings in workshops and numerous articles, books, and government publications. Failing at Fairness pulls their research together and provides a detailed overview of the hidden sexism at all levels of American education today and historically. The Sadkers use examples and statistics and cite over 400 books, reports, and articles to illustrate their claim that girls are systematically shortchanged by the educational system. The chapter bibliographies supplying citations to primary sources are particularly valuable, since some of the Sadkers' premises and conclusions may be a bit overstated. Nonetheless, Failing at Fairness is a thought-provoking book on an important topic. As such, it is recommended for libraries with collections in education, women's studies, and parenting. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/93.
- Carol R. Nelson, Ball State Univ. Lib., Muncie, Ind.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (February 14, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684195410
• ISBN-13: 978-0684195414
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,597,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enlightening. Very thought provoking., October 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Failing at Fairness: How America's Schools Cheat Girls (Hardcover)

I am very glad I read Failing at Fairness. I am an early childhood education major and it is a useful tool for all new teachers. I never realized how much girls were being discriminated against. The book made me realize how outdated our textbooks and classroom materials are. When the book mentioned naming 20 famous women I admit I could not. The important role that women played in the history of this country is sadly overlooked in our history books. Being a future educator this book made me aware of some of the biases we may have and not even be aware of. I am well aware of racial discrimination in the classrooms but before I read "Failing at Fairness" I was unaware of gender discrimination. It made me realize there are subtle messages we send to our young female students. Messages that can destroy their self-esteem and prevent them from becoming the adult that they can be. I will be aware of how much time I spend correcting my male students and how much I call on them. Failing at Fairness is an excellent book, very well researched and a must read for anyone involved in education.

3.0 out of 5 stars Failing at Fairness, September 3, 2009

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Reverend Love "Brian" (Hyde Park, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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I thought this book was very helpful in understanding how women have been treated in the past and also into the present. It establishes good points that can be seen today and where we work, go to school, or even in our neighborhood. However, I found it to be very narrow minded. It only portrays ideas from one view point and so is very biased in nature. I believe there are always two sides to a story and so pointing out the positives would be just as insightful as the negatives.