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Breaking barriers: Gender disparities in high school performance, 1813--1929

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Møller Dahl

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Nick Ford

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Kristin Ranestad

    (University of Oslo)

  • Paul Sharp

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Christian Emil Westermann

    (University of Southern Denmark)

Abstract

When women first entered Norwegian high school examinations in the late nineteenth century, did they outperform men, as they do today? Using a new dataset of 41,585 graduates from 1813 to 1929, we show that early female students initially achieved better grades than their male peers. However, this advantage disappeared within a generation as access expanded and co-education became institutionalised. After accounting for study programme, socioeconomic background, and type of education, we find rapid convergence in performance and no evidence of adverse effects on male students. The results suggest that contemporary female outperformance is not historically persistent, but a product of more recent institutional and social change.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Møller Dahl & Nick Ford & Kristin Ranestad & Paul Sharp & Christian Emil Westermann, 2026. "Breaking barriers: Gender disparities in high school performance, 1813--1929," Working Papers 0300, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0300
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    File URL: https://ehes.org/wp/EHES_300.pdf
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    JEL classification:

    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-

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