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Dr. Scott Richardson Publishes Book

New book by faculty member includes student input.

With the help of several Millersville students, Dr. Scott Richardson, educational foundations, recently wrote and published a book “Gender Lessons: Patriarchy, Sextyping & Schools.”

“The book is about how schools institutionalize gender,” explained Richardson. “That is, I describe how schools create, teach and expect ‘girl’ and ‘boy’ culture.”

The book, which was released in April 2015, has received positive reviews and promotion from organizations including the American Educational Studies Association.

Richardson began taking notes on the institutionalism of gender that he witnessed first-hand when he taught elementary school from 1999 – 2007. However, he didn’t intend on writing a book until his own children began attending school.

“I was worried about them,” said Richardson. “I watched these amazing individuals become boxed in and expected to perform a version of femininity in which they (and many other kids) didn’t identify.”

During the writing process, many of the students that Richardson discussed the book with offered to help with the research. Millersville students Sabrina Hensel, Samantha Lang and Khoan Ly collected field data, while Jenna Bisbing, Kortney Gipe and Brandon Leinbach assisted by reviewing literature, proof reading and challenging Richardson’s ideas as he wrote the book.

The help that Richardson received from students extended beyond simply scientific research and into the realm of the arts. Art major Emily Pellini illustrated the cover for his book, and recent Millersville graduate Nicole Weerbrouck ‘14 contributed a poem.

“Though the book’s start grew out of my initial observations and concerns, these students influenced my research in very significant ways,” said Richardson. “They are a deeply talented crew.”

Richardson plans to incorporate his newly published book into the classroom when possible. It will become a primary textbook in the women and education course that he plans to teach in the future.

This is Richardson’s second book on the gender issues that have persisted throughout American culture. “EleMENtary School: (Hyper)Masculinity in a Feminized Context” was published in 2012.

 

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