This research focuses on gender, meaning that the roles and actions of "feminine" and "masculine" genders are distinguished by societal expectations and turned into "female" or "male" individuals. This qualitative study intends to elucidate the opinions of high school students on gender differences in teacher behavior. The research study group comprises of 80 participants drawn from the students attending public high schools in the central regions of Eskişehir during the academic years 2022–2023. The researcher devised a semi-structured interview form to collect data for the study. The data were analyzed using the method of content analysis. According to the research findings, most gender role preconceptions are restrictive/repressive, and these stereotypes constitute the foundation of gender discrimination in society. In addition, individuals adopt the gender roles that society deems proper for them out of fear of social exclusion, rejection, and condemnation. All participants agree that teachers display gender-stereotyped behaviour. Moreover, instructor behaviors including these patterns vary according to the gender of the students. Teachers encourage female students to conduct and speak in a particular manner, to sit in a particular manner, to be interested in sports such as volleyball that are deemed appropriate for women, not to use abusive language, not to act like males, and not to cut their hair as short as men. On the other hand, male students engage in actions and speak in a particular manner regarding not chewing gum, gossiping, not wearing jewelry, not wearing pink, and wearing tight clothing. In addition, according to participant feedback, it is possible to eliminate gender role stereotypes through practices such as raising environmental awareness through individual effort, educating the public, arranging education programs to promote gender awareness, training teachers, and imposing sanctions. It is feasible to suggest that instructors' gender behavior can have either positive or harmful consequences on their students, and that these gender roles can be replicated or stopped in schools by teachers. For this reason, it is important for teachers to receive pre-service and in-service training so that they can gain gender awareness.

Gender, gender roles, gender stereotypes, gender discrimination