What Feminist Mathematics Education tells to South Korea

Abstract

I examine the discussions of studies related to feminist mathematics education and the implications of mathematics education in South Korea. In particular, I attempt to answer the following questions through literature reviews on feminist mathematics: What is the epistemological background of feminist mathematics education? How is feminist mathematics education defined and implemented? What does feminist mathematics education suggest in South Korea''s mathematics curriculum? From the analysis of the literatures, I found that feminist mathematics education reflects not just the rights of female''s rights but also a paradigm shift in epistemology of mathematics and philosophy of mathematics education. In this regard, feminist mathematics questions the existing mathematics education related to the female students who were marginalized in the composition and delivery of mathematics. Feminist mathematics education points out that in the course of the transfer of mathematical knowledge in schools, female students understand unilateral information procedurally without understanding the concept. Mathematics educators should consider alternative curricula that reflect the views of female students regarding the nature of mathematics. Students should be able to receive equal mathematics education in a school regardless of their gender. In this case, equal mathematics education refers to education methods that are suitable for both male and female students. The existing mathematics content and its teaching methods were designed based on the learning experiences of male students, which made them relatively difficult for female students to understand.