A comparative analysis of girls’ play during recess period, in single-sex and co-educational schools

Abstract

An article published in the Times of Malta in January 2014, titled “Co-education in Form 1 throughout Malta and Gozo as from September”, was released following a three-month experiment in a local State School. This article raised a strong yet futile debate online. A thought featuring in a number of comments was that the experiment was poor and decisions were rushed. The debate slowly diffused and Co-Ed schooling was enforced in State schools, the following scholastic year. The general issue as to whether or not coeducation is more suitable for students at secondary level, has drawn the attention of many scholar over the years and essentially remains a debatable subject. The majority of studies following this debate are aimed towards investigating the academic performance of students across different schools, without cherishing the importance of investigating how informal learning is affected. Thus, contributing towards the existent gap in such studies, this thesis aims to examine how young females interact on the school playground during recess period, with a particular focus on sports activities and active play. The main investigation, that is whether the gender composition of schools has an impact on break time activities unfolds through an analysis from three different perspectives : Gender Socialization, Physical Activity and Body Image.