Gender and the problem of diversity: Action research in physical education

This purpose of this paper is to explore the intersection of gender, equity and the discourse of diversity. The authors argue that while the goal of d iversity in a democratic society is an admirable one, its advocacy could li mit any real educational change. To explore the differences between the dis course of diversity and language of equity, they draw upon two action resea rch studies conducted by two elementary school teachers who were not elemen tary physical education specialists. Through their action research projects , which included direct instruction as a way to confront the gender discrim ination that was occurring in the physical education component of their cla ssrooms, these teachers found that they had to abandon the discourse of div ersity and embrace the language of equity for meaningful educational change to occur.