Chapter 11: School

Question 1

How do schools reinforce gender stereotypes?

Answer 1

• perpetuation and reinforcement from peers
• school gender stereotypes typically produce differences in attitudes and expectations about careers and scholastic preparation

Question 2

Are there more male or female teachers in early schooling ?

Answer 2

• many female, few male

- teachers may encourage gender segregation

Question 3

How does the school curriculum concentration contain gender stereotypes?

Answer 3

• the curriculum is made up of skills that are difficult for boys but girls have already developed such skills (reading)
• the curriculum tends to ignore skills needing development in girls (such as investigating, experimental, gross motor activities that are typically considered ‘play’)

Question 4

Gender differences in school achievement?

Answer 4

• girls achievement is slightly higher than boys

- SES is important predictor

Question 5

Gender differences in conformity to gender-stereotypical behaviours in schools

Answer 5

• girls are more responsive to social cues, adult requests, self-disciplined and able to delay gratification
• boys are more likely to get deferred for special education
  (bias prevents girls from receiving special ed)

Question 6

How do gender differences change during middle school

Answer 6

• gender differences emerge, though related more to attitudes than actual achievement, by junior high girls show less interest in math and science
• athletic performance: becomes more gender-segregated, pushes girls away
• confidence levels also change (decline in both genders academic abilities, girls still tend to have higher grades)

Question 7

How do gender differences change during high school

Answer 7

• girls consider both family and career options in high school, boys do not
• physical appearance and athletic ability confer status and prestige (boys- athleticism, girls- appearance)
• course choice: gender differences in math disappear though girls still less interested

Question 8

Hourly wage gender differences

Answer 8

• female-dominated jobs (13) , boys (17)

Question 9

What is the biggest influence on choice to pursue a non traditional career

Answer 9

• classmates most common, more so for girls, same-sex harassment common for boys

Question 10

Gender differences in college and professional school

Answer 10

• female enrolment increasing
• women now receive more undergraduate degrees than men
• masters degree: 56% are women
• PHD: increasing, but more men
• Sports: females increasing involvement

Question 11

Fear of Success

Answer 11

• the anticipation of negative consequences for success
• applied to womens lower achievement motivation
• women work better alone
• women understand the social consequences of competing with men

Question 12

What do women equate success with

Answer 12

• loss of femininity

- feel anxious about success

Question 13

Self-confidence gender differences

Answer 13

• slightly lower in women
• gender stereotyping effects confidence
• men overestimate their ability and women underestimate their abilities when there is no gender information

Question 14

Self-esteem gender differences

Answer 14

• males: physical appearance, athletics, self satisfaction
• females: behavioural and moral-ethical self esteem
• females lower

Question 15

Gender differences in attributions for success and failure

Answer 15

• females more likely to explain their success in terms of effort
• males more likely to consider success as a reflection of ability

Question 16

Two dimensions of success and failure

Answer 16

Internal Factors
- Ability (stable)
- Effort (unstable)
External Factors
- "bad luck" (unstable)
- Task difficulty (stable)

Question 17

what is the biggest concern regarding gender and school

Answer 17

• gender equity

Question 18

Gender Equity

Answer 18

-Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 prohibits gender discrimination in school

Question 19

McClelland’s ‘need for achievement’

Answer 19

• people with high “need for achievement” tend to do better than those without a strong need for achievement
• focused on business, ignored family
• only examined men

Question 20

Sexual Harassment in high school

Answer 20

• any unwanted leers, comments, suggestions or physical contact of a sexual nature as well as unwelcome request for sexual favours
• same-sex harassment more common, especially with boys