Knowledge, Gender and Power in Physical Education Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper is part of a larger study which looked at the social construction of knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and practices in a physical education teacher education program. Through participant observations and interviews, texts of pedagogy were read in terms of their gendered discourses. Specifically the discourses associated with staffing patterns, students' physicality and body image, social interaction patterns, course knowledge, and research foci and how notions of ‘the body’ underpin these were examined. Analyses suggested that the female students were marginalised by the dominant discourses although there was resistance from some faculty and students. The conclusion is drawn that the teacher education program perpetuated masculine hegemony. It thus contributed to limiting the voice of women physical educators and the potential of all graduates to challenge the sexist structures within physical education and the teaching profession.