Teaching Gender Issues in Drama Education: An Action Research on Relationship Education in Junior High School

• Main Authors: Hao Wei Kai, 郝偉凱
• Other Authors: Yang Chia Ling
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/2c878g

碩士 === 國立高雄師範大學 === 性別教育研究所 === 102 === Teaching Gender Issues in Drama Education: An Action Research on Relationship Education in Junior High School Abstract This study takes two third-grade classes in a junior high school in Kaohsiung as its research field and employs action research in relationships education. As a teacher and a researcher, I use drama education to teach junior high school students the concept of “love” with gender perspective. The series of classes last in seven weeks, one class per week. Using “sculpture” as the primary teaching method in drama education, I lead the students to reflect gender politics and gender norms in love stories through reflexive thinking. The findings of this research are as follows. First of all, love stories created by junior high school students are heavily influenced by pop cultures, reflecting the phenomenon of commodification and overemphasis on sex in intimate relationship. Secondly, the notion of “men highlighting sex and women focusing on love” does exist, but through the use of drama education and discussions, boys can learn to express love and girls dare to talk about sex. Last but not least, teachers should be encouraged to integrate their life experiences in teaching processes with continuous reflection on their positions as a teacher as well as in gender politics. By doing so, teachers can collaborate with the students to practice drama education in a safe environment that emphasizes on gender equity. Drama education provides the students a space to create love stories from their life experiences. Moreover, drama education also makes students step back and examine gender issues in love stories critically with gender consciousness. Accordingly, students can develop potential strategies in dealing with these issues. This study finds many gender issues worth exploring in further research, such as homosexuality and breaking up in relationship. Keywords: drama education, relationship education, action research, gender education, sexuality