Stereotype on Females' Success Boosts Females' Math Learning

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Engagement in Mathematics

Abstract

Male’s success and female’s failure in math was attributed to born talent while female’s success and male’s failure in math was attributed to effort were common phenomena in China. This study examined math-male stereotype (MMS: math a male subject) and math-female stereotype (MFS, female’s success in math was effort) influencing male’s and female’s math performance separately in a sample of 1,734 secondary students. Results from structure equation modeling showed that MFS boosted female’s math performance and weakened the negative effects of MMS on females’ math performance. MMS also boost male’s performance; however, MFS had no significant effect on males’ math performance. These findings give some suggestions about the improvement of the teaching of math and related disciplines to female students.

Authors

• Xiaorui Huang, East China Normal University

• Gaowei Chen, The University of Hong Kong

• BO DONG