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This book examines teaching as a gendered occupation from the perspectives of contemporary women teachers (ascertained through interviews and participant observation in two schools), and historical teachers (whose views are constructed through diaries and letters archived in libraries). Equally important, the book examines meanings about teachers that circulate in the culture through fiction, biography, and talk.

“Synthetic and well written, with a fine sense of historical and empirical detail and an equally fine sense of what is at stake politically and educationally in education today. The book is an important contribution to our understanding of gender relations in education.”
—Michael W. Apple, The University of Wisconsin–Madison

“This book is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the way conceptions of gender have shaped school practices.”
—Kathleen Weiler, Tufts University

“Biklen’s qualitative sources provide rich insights and her blend of sociology and history offers a fresh conceptual approach.”
—History of Education Quarterly