Gendered study choice: a literature review. A review of theory and research into the unequal representation of male and female students in mathematics,science, and technology |
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| Authors: | Demet Yazilitas Jörgen Svensson Geert de Vries Sawitri Saharso |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Sociology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlandsd.yazilitas@vu.nl;3. School of Management and Governance, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands;4. Department of Sociology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;5. School of Management and Governance, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | This article presents an overview of the recent literature on gendered patterns of academic choice in mathematics, science, and technology. It distinguishes in this literature micro-level, macro-level, and institutional explanations. Micro-level explanations focus primarily on psychological constructs, that is, variables at the level of the individual students. Macro-level explanations focus primarily on socioeconomic conditions and cultural understandings of gender roles. Institutional explanations focus on design characteristics of (national) education systems. After a presentation of these perspectives and of recent research progress that has been made, the authors critically discuss the lacunae that still exist in explaining cross-national variety, and provide suggestions for designing future research in this field. |
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| Keywords: | gender education academic choice mathematics science and technology |
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