Gender achievement and social, political and economic equality: a European perspective

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Ireson, G. ORCID: 0000-0003-3471-2623, 2016. Gender achievement and social, political and economic equality: a European perspective. Educational Studies. ISSN 0305-5698

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2016.1237868

Abstract

Differences in gender equality based on social, political and economic factors is cited, by some writers, as a contributory factor in the differentially greater achievement of boys in STEM subjects through the concept of gender stratification. Gender differences, especially in mathematics, have been linked directly to gender parity in wider society. Such a link is predicted by gender stratification via both the gender similarities and gender stratification hypotheses, for example (Else-Quest et al. 2010 and Hyde and Mertz, 2009). Analysis by Ainara González de San Román & Sara de la Rica Goiricelaya (2012) appears to support the hypothesis that the gender gap is smaller, in mathematics, when the society has a higher equality index. However, more recently, Stoet & Geary (2015) report evidence, based on PISA outcomes from 2000 to 2009, that there is little or no correlation between the gender gap and wider equality. This paper takes up this analysis using PISA data from the 2012 round, for both science and mathematics, and the Global Gender Gap Index in a European context. The results support Stoet & Geary’s findings and cast doubts on any link between national gender equality and achievement in science or mathematics. Whilst the conclusion reached in this paper supports Stoet & Geary’s findings further work is needed to explain the observed differences in achievement between boys and girls.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Educational Studies

Creators:

Ireson, G.

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

Date:

2016

ISSN:

0305-5698