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Like other myths that exist about what men and women can excel at or not, the belief that males are better in mathematics than females have been around for years. Studies implemented on this topic found that historically boys did perform better than girls on math exams, but with current research findings, it has become clear that such evidence can be a result of external factors and not from their biological makeup. This belief still stands despite the research done that such differences can depend on social factors and are not absolute to each sex.
It calls to the attention of whether this belief can negatively affect successful performance in the subject or disinterest in careers involving math.
Research on differences. According to a study done by researchers to determine whether gender played a role in the belief that males were more successful in mathematics, there were no significant differences in performance at an elementary and middle school level. They did find that at a high school and college-level males had a small advantage over females in mathematical success but the advantage is not large and is likely to recede over time with reduced gender bias.
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The studies of Hyde et al include a large sample in the millions and a smaller sample where the difference of mean values between males and females was below 0.2 which indicated minuscule differences in their math performances.
External factors. Although there is insufficient evidence to prove that males outperform females in math because of biological reasons there is evidence that could help give understanding why some may still argue that angle.
In 1994, Entwisle et al. also determined that general differences between the two were small, however; boys from higher SES families performed better than girls from middle-class families, and boys from lower SES families did worse than the girls.
The resources that each individual has available can play a role in their performance, as well as their attitude toward math. Schmader et al. (2004) designed two studies to find whether females who believed they were mathematically inferior to men affected their views of themselves, the careers they pursued, and whether they would take on or succumb to this belief. Their second study concluded that the women that believed their gender was an important factor in their performance scored more poorly on tests than those who rejected the stereotype.
Careers in mathematics. Unfortunately, it is quite common that men are often linked to careers in math and science while women are associated with careers in the arts or other non-mathematical fields. To researchers, such as Hackett (1985), a woman’s self-efficacy in mathematics can dictate whether she pursues a career in that field or not. As in any career, confidence in one’s abilities to succeed is an important variable and in this study men scored higher on the Fennema-Sherman Math Confidence Scale (Fennema & Sherman, 1978). This scale measures a person’s attitude toward mathematics using a survey designed to measure confidence, math as a male domain, teacher perception, and usefulness. Attitude toward the subject plays a role because if an individual believes the outcome will be negative, they are more likely to avoid it altogether. If a woman’s self-efficacy in the subject is not high it is not surprising to find that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, men make up more than half of those employed in mathematical occupations.
Reviewing the literature, there is a decent amount of support to reject the claim that boys have an advantage over girls in mathematics because of their gender. There are little if any differences between their performances as children; and while the difference in performance is more apparent as teenagers and adults the gap still isn’t large enough to indicate a distinct difference based on gender alone. The variables that seem to affect performance are external and related to the environment that the individual is in. These variables, among others, include family SES or personal SES as adults and their attitudes toward mathematics as a result of the gender stereotype. Although only limited action can be taken to change one’s SES, there are multiple ways to eliminate this stereotype in order to create equal opportunity for girls to excel in mathematics.
Are males better than females in mathematics?. (2021, Dec 03). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/are-males-better-than-females-in-mathematics-essay
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