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Civic education includes all of the ways in which young people are educated—both formally and informally—to be citizens of their local communities, nation-states, and the global society. Traditionally, civic education focused primarily on how schools taught students the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they needed to be informed, participating members of their communities and nation. In recent years, civic educators and researchers have broadened their attention beyond the political arena to also include the ways in which young people are prepared to be active in civil society—voluntary, nongovernmental sites of democratic life—and in the global community. Additionally, contemporary civic educators and scholars have recognized that diversity plays an important role in civic education. The young people who are constructing meaning of the political world and civil society are diverse in race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, religion, language, and exceptionality. They are being prepared to understand the social world around them, which is made up of diverse individuals, and as citizens, they will confront numerous diversity-related issues. This entry explores the gender dimensions of diversity and civic education. Attention is given to how gender interacts with theories of citizenship, what researchers have learned about gender differences in civic understanding and experiences, and how gender is presented in civic education curricula and instruction. Although the focus is on gender and civic education in the United States, work from other parts of the world is also discussed.

Gender and Theories of Citizenship

Concepts and theories of citizenship have changed over time, with various meanings interacting with gender and civic education differently. Citizenship traditionally referred to a political relationship between an individual and his or her fellow citizens and their relationship to a shared governing structure. Today, there is concern about citizenship in local and global communities as well as in nation-states. Further, citizenship refers to legal status (or membership) and to a shared identity, values, rights, and participatory practices. Four sets of theories or discourses of citizenship are most relevant to gender and civic education. They are civic republicanism, liberalism, critical theories (including feminism), and transnationalism/cosmopolitanism.

Civic republican ideas of citizenship are rooted in ancient Athens and Rome. These ideas emphasize love of and service to the political community. Civic republicans focus on civic education's role in developing civic literacy (civic knowledge), allegiance to the political community (patriotism), and active participation in the political community (voting and volunteering). Civic republicans call for courses in civics/government and U.S. history, community service opportunities, and practices such as mock elections, singing of the national anthem, and pledging allegiance to the flag. From this perspective, schools aim to nurture good citizens who are responsible and contribute to the common good. Within this tradition, scholars have identified gender differences in civic knowledge, expectations of voting, and volunteering.

Liberal theories of citizenship emphasize that citizens are entitled to rights (guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and international human rights documents), equality, and participation in self-rule. From this perspective, civic education gives primary attention to developing critical thinking abilities (civic skills) and providing opportunities for shared decision making through classroom deliberation of civic/political issues and school governance. The purpose of civic education is to prepare youth to make informed, rational decisions with fellow citizens who are diverse in many ways. A liberal view of citizenship points to guaranteeing equal rights for all by removing barriers to equal and full participation by all men and women. Also, this view points to the importance of giving young people opportunities to deliberate about many gender-related issues that face society.

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