Gender Differences in Citizenship Competences: The Role of Students' Perceived Openness of Classroom Climate

• In Event: Cultural Diversity, Social Context, and Citizenship Development

Abstract

The Dutch sample of the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study 2016 indicates gender differences in citizenship competences, and previous research shows that girls generally perceive the classroom climate to be more open. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the mechanism underlying gender differences in citizenship competences (operationalized as citizenship self-efficacy, societal participation, talking about political and societal matters, and civic knowledge). This was done by examining the mediating role of students’ perceived openness of classroom climate. The relationship between gender and citizenship self-efficacy, and talking about political and societal matters, was found fully mediated by an open classroom climate; the relationship between gender and societal participation, and civic knowledge, was found partially mediated by an open classroom climate.

Author

• Lianne Hoek, University of Amsterdam