The men's aggression and the women's uneasiness may belie an unspoken dynamic. This unquestioned and unexamined avoidance of confrontation might explain what the Sadkers described as the typical professor's ho, hum classroom environment. Professors must begin to see themselves as the essential part of the equation and must attend to their own planning and response patterns in order to become an unbiased teacher. They can establish rules for or model equitable interactions, expand the lecture to include discussion or collaborative learning, or require non-biased seating arrangements. They can consciously turn toward and alternately question men and women.
Equitable teaching requires vigilance and presence.
Most students appreciate a professor's decision to adopt an equitable approach though some may not. Women who are accustomed to invisibility may rebel. Men may act out. Consequently, faculty need to plan and build effective interactions from the first day of class. Because anonymity within a group breeds silence, professors need to reduce it.