Gijsbert Stoet|Drew H. Bailey|Alex M. Moore|David C. Geary
Countries with Higher Levels of Gender Equality Show Larger National Sex Differences in Mathematics Anxiety and Relatively Lower Parental Mathematics Valuation for Girls
University of Glasgow|University of California, Irvine|University of Missouri|University of Missouri
despite international advancements gender equality across variety societal domains underrepresentation girls women science technology engineering mathematics stem related fields persists study explored possibility sex difference mathematics anxiety contributes disparity specifically tested number predictions prominent gender stratification model leading psychological theory crossnational patterns sex differences mathematics anxiety performance end analyzed data 761655 15year old students across 68 nations participated programme international student assessment pisa importantly contra predictions showed economically developed gender equal countries lower overall level mathematics anxiety yet larger national sex difference mathematics anxiety relative less developed countries although relatively mothers work stem fields developed countries parents valued average mathematical competence sons daughters proportion mothers working stem unrelated sex differences mathematics anxiety performance propose gender stratification model fails account national patterns alternative model needed discussion suggest interaction sociocultural values sexspecific psychological traits better explain patterns also discuss implications policies aiming increase girls stem participation