ERIC Number: EJ771999
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Sep
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0361-6843
EISSN: N/A
University Students from Single-Sex and Coeducational High Schools: Differences in Majors and Attitudes at a Catholic University
Karpiak, Christie P.; Buchanan, James P.; Hosey, Megan; Smith, Allison
Psychology of Women Quarterly, v31 n3 p282-289 Sep 2007
We conducted an archival study at a coeducational Catholic university to test the proposition that single-sex secondary education predicts lasting differences in college majors. Men from single-sex schools were more likely to both declare and graduate in gender-neutral majors than those from coeducational schools. Women from single-sex schools were more likely to declare gender-neutral majors, but were not different from their coeducated peers at graduation. A second study was conducted with a sample of first-year students to examine the correspondence between egalitarian attitudes, single-sex secondary education, and major choice. Egalitarianism was higher in students in nontraditional majors, but did not correspond in expected ways with single-sex education. Men from single-sex schools were less likely to hold egalitarian attitudes about gender roles, whereas women from single-sex and coeducational high schools did not differ in egalitarianism. Taken together, our results raise questions about the potential of single-sex high schools to reduce gender-stratification in professions.
Descriptors: Majors (Students), High Schools, Gender Differences, Gender Issues, Secondary Education, Coeducation, Catholics, Single Sex Schools, College Students, Predictor Variables, Correlation, Student Attitudes, Sex Role, Sex Stereotypes, Social Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A