A Cross-National Study on How Gender Inequality Affects Gender Imbalance in Desiring Teaching Professions

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Thirteen
  In Roundtable Session: Social Context of the Teaching Profession: Problematizing the Preparation and Classroom Experience (Table 11)

Abstract

Teaching has long been recognized as females’ preferred occupation. This study investigates the relationship between the gender imbalance of 15-year old students desiring to become teachers and the degree of national gender (in)equality. We utilize data from PISA 2018 in combination with data for OECD countries and find that in economically gender-unequal countries, the proportion of female students who wished to become teachers was higher. In countries where gender-equal social welfare systems were guaranteed, the percentage of female students wishing to become a teacher was smaller, getting closer to a gender balance. Consequently, we suggest that national policy efforts are needed to promote gender equality and in turn narrow the gender imbalance among students who seek teaching professions.

Authors

• Lina Kim, Seoul National University
  Presenting Author

• Hanna Kim, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Presenting Author