Journal Article

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

Geary, David C., Moore, Alex M., Stoet, Gijsbert, Bailey, Drew H.

2016

Overview

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.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adolescent / Alternative approaches / Anxiety / Anxiety - psychology / Biology and Life Sciences / Careers / Children & youth / Cultural values / Data processing / Daughters / Developed countries / Developing countries / Developmental psychology / Educational psychology / Employment / Engineering - education / Equality / Female / Females / Foreign students / Gender / Gender aspects / Gender differences / Gender equality / Gender equity / Gender inequality / Girls / Humans / Industrialized nations / International Agencies / LDCs / Male / Mathematical analysis / Mathematical models / Mathematical problems / Mathematics / Mathematics - education / Mathematics anxiety / Moore, David / Parents / Parents & parenting / Parents - psychology / People and Places / Problem solving / Psychological distress / Psychological theories / Research and Analysis Methods / Researchers / Role models / Science - education / Science and technology / Scientists / Sex / Sex differences / Sex differences (Biology) / Sex Factors / Social aspects / Social Sciences / Sociocultural factors / STEM education / Stratification / Students / Students - psychology / Studies / Teacher education / Valuation / Variables / Women / Working mothers