ERIC Number: ED207834
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1981
Pages: 38
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Sex Stereotyping Versus Perceived Value as the Mediator of Sex Differentiated Math Participation.
Parsons, Jacquelynne Eccles
Students' stereotyping of mathematics as a male domain and their ratings of themselves on a simplified version of the PAQ was correlated with a battery of measures designed to assess student attitudes toward mathematics and their plans to continue taking mathematics courses. This was done to evaluate both sex-typed personality characteristics and the effects of the stereotyping of mathematics as a male domain on mathematics attitudes and course enrollment plans. The results suggested that the link between sex-typed personality structures as defined by the PAQ median-split-classificatory-system and achievement-related behaviors is weak at best, with only the responses to the instrumental items related to self-concept of ability. The data does not support the popular notion that sex-typing of subject matter as masculine acts as a deterrent to female achievement. It is suggested that females may not aspire to mathematics-related occupations, as they are often stereotyped as decidedly unmasculine and unfeminine positions. A second measure of sex role identity provided additional support for the idea that it is not the stereotyping of mathematics but rather the range of a student's activity interest that is critical in determining attitudes towards mathematics. (MP)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Inst. of Mental Health (DHEW), Rockville, MD.; National Inst. of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A