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Countries with Higher Levels of Gender Equality Show Larger National Sex Differences in Mathematics Anxiety and Relatively Lower Parental Mathematics Valuation for Girls

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  • Gijsbert Stoet
  • Drew H Bailey
  • Alex M Moore
  • David C Geary

Abstract

Despite international advancements in gender equality across a variety of societal domains, the underrepresentation of girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields persists. In this study, we explored the possibility that the sex difference in mathematics anxiety contributes to this disparity. More specifically, we tested a number of predictions from the prominent gender stratification model, which is the leading psychological theory of cross-national patterns of sex differences in mathematics anxiety and performance. To this end, we analyzed data from 761,655 15-year old students across 68 nations who participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Most importantly and contra predictions, we showed that economically developed and more gender equal countries have a lower overall level of mathematics anxiety, and yet a larger national sex difference in mathematics anxiety relative to less developed countries. Further, although relatively more mothers work in STEM fields in more developed countries, these parents valued, on average, mathematical competence more in their sons than their daughters. The proportion of mothers working in STEM was unrelated to sex differences in mathematics anxiety or performance. We propose that the gender stratification model fails to account for these national patterns and that an alternative model is needed. In the discussion, we suggest how an interaction between socio-cultural values and sex-specific psychological traits can better explain these patterns. We also discuss implications for policies aiming to increase girls’ STEM participation.

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  • Gijsbert Stoet & Drew H Bailey & Alex M Moore & David C Geary, 2016. "Countries with Higher Levels of Gender Equality Show Larger National Sex Differences in Mathematics Anxiety and Relatively Lower Parental Mathematics Valuation for Girls," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0153857
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153857
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Stern, Charlotta & Madison, Guy, 2022. "Sex differences and occupational choice Theorizing for policy informed by behavioral science✰," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 694-702.
    3. Breda, Thomas & Napp, Clotilde, 2019. "Girls' Comparative Advantage in Reading Can Largely Account for the Gender Gap in Math-Intensive Fields," IZA Discussion Papers 12503, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Izaskun Zuazu, 2020. "Graduates’ Opium? Cultural Values, Religiosity and Gender Segregation by Field of Study," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-27, July.
    5. Ana Escudero & Mᵃ Oliva Lago & Cristina Dopico, 2022. "Gender Similarities in the Mathematical Performance of Early School-Age Children," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(17), pages 1-24, August.
    6. Monica Bowden & John P. Bartkowski & Xiaohe Xu & Richard Lewis Jr., 2017. "Parental Occupation and the Gender Math Gap: Examining the Social Reproduction of Academic Advantage among Elementary and Middle School Students," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Clotilde Napp & Thomas Breda, 2022. "The stereotype that girls lack talent: A worldwide investigation," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-03672465, HAL.
    8. Dilmaghani, Maryam, 2020. "Gender differences in performance under time constraint: Evidence from chess tournaments," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    9. Jose Luis Arroyo-Barrigüete & Susana Carabias-López & Francisco Borrás-Pala & Gloria Martín-Antón, 2023. "Gender Differences in Mathematics Achievement: The Case of a Business School in Spain," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, April.
    10. Zuazu-Bermejo, Izaskun, 2020. "Graduates’ opium? Cultural values, religiosity and gender segregation by field of study," OSF Preprints yn23j, Center for Open Science.
    11. Cardoso, M. & Mendes, R.S. & Souza, J.T.G. & Ribeiro, H.V., 2020. "Gender difference in candidature processes for Brazilian elections," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 537(C).
    12. Borgonovi, Francesca & Greiff, Samuel, 2020. "Societal level gender inequalities amplify gender gaps in problem solving more than in academic disciplines," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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