Journal of University Studies

Journal of University Studies

Book review of “The Social Construction of Difference: Gender in the University Classroom” by Karam Habibpour Getabi

Document Type : Book Review

Author
PhD in Cultural Sociology, Institute for Management and Planning Studies, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The book entitled The Social Construction of Difference: Gender in the University Classroom was written by Dr. Karam Habibpour Getabi in 2017. This is notable for examining the methodological dimensions of an academic research in the field of gender identity, especially female identity, as well as paying attention to science in the experience of gender differences and approaches leading to structure and agency in the gender reproduction or construction. The book claims the neglect of sociology in dealing with the cultural and social dimensions of the university classroom, and hence, it talks about the narrative of gender experience in the classroom. It seems that despite the set goals, the direction of the book is more than anything related to the gender issue and with the default design of the gender bias in the classroom, the methodology and the research process will suffer bias, as well. The research path focuses more on the separation of subjects in the field of learning. Data interpretation, contrary to the claim of the book and the proposed theoretical approaches, has not been on the path of constructivism. Finally, the role of the university in strengthening the gender difference or adjusting this difference is unclear, and the interpretation and evaluation of the university and its role in identifying students is formulated in a passive rather than active mode. One of the main challenges of this critique is related to the style of expression of the collected concepts and their interpretation. In other words, the conceptualization of titles in the presentation of research results will reproduce gender stereotypes in a hidden agency. Therefore, in order to degenderize research requires more than anything else a real understanding of issues, imbalances and social discontinuities.
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Volume 1, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Spring 2023
Spring 2023
Pages 189-197

  • Receive Date 06 June 2022
  • Revise Date 23 March 0621
  • Accept Date 22 February 2023