Junior High School Physical Education from the Perspective of Gender:
Health and Physical Education Instructor Sex and School Athletic Meet (Sports Day) Events

Junko Tahara and Yasuko Serizawa
（Chukyo Women's University）

Abstract

　　　Under revisions made to school curriculum guidelines in 1989, the terms "male and female" (or "boy and girl") were eliminated from elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, and institutional discrimination on the basis of gender was eliminated. Nonetheless, it is believed that existing gender bias has a significant impact on the behavior of instructors and students. In order to verify this, we conducted a survey of junior high schools in four prefectures to the west of the Kanto region concerning the gender of health and physical education instructors, the percentages of male and female instructors for each sport, and the events held for boys and girls in school athletic meets (sports days) with the intention of determining their characteristics. The research method consisted of a written questionnaire distributed by mail to all public and private junior high schools in Kanagawa, Aichi, Okayama, and Hiroshima Prefectures. The survey was conducted from September to December 2003, and valid responses were received from 634 schools (47%). The survey results indicated that female health and physical education instructors account for about 30% of the total. The results also indicated a strong tendency for female instructors to instruct in dance and male instructors in the martial arts. These gender differences were particularly prominent in the events conducted during student field days. More than 60% of the schools hold events limited to just girls or boys. In track and field events, girls' race events were for shorter distances. Group events also showed an awareness of gender differences, with girls participating in dance while boys participate in cavalry battle games and stunt-type events. The survey results indicated that existing gender bias remains strongly rooted in the field of education.


Keywords: Gender, junior high school, health and physical education, instructor, school athletic meet (sports day)


Journal of Sport and Gender Studies, 3: 18-25, 2005.