They limit our children. When we reinforce, or indeed don't actively breakdown stereotypes, we close doors that could be the avenue to success and happiness for our children and students. In education, and the workforce, there are stereotypes – usually unspoken, but not always – about what jobs are appropriate for girls versus boys or men versus women. There are stereotypes about what jobs different minority or underrepresented groups are "good at" or "not good at." There are "statistics" that reinforce stereotypes about graduation rates, abilities, interests, and economic necessities!
The reality is that the interests of one girl will surely differ from what interests another girl. There will certainly be Hispanic girls who find their passion in the automotive industry while their best friend finds hers in accounting and finance! There will be African American men who love to work with young children while their peers are studying law and are baffled by anyone who relates to young children! The reality is unknown; however, what is known is that students "cannot maximize their human potential if their career aspirations are limited by stereotypes!" (Getting Realp. 43)
Today's CTE provides students:
Academic subject matter taught with relevance to the real world
Employability skills, from job-related skills to workplace ethics
Career pathways that link secondary and postsecondary education
Second-chance education and training
Education for additional training and degrees, especially related to workplace training, skills upgrades and career advancement
