Math, girls and socialism.

Autor/inn/en	Lippmann, Quentin; Senik, Claudia
Titel	Math, girls and socialism.
Quelle	In: Journal of comparative economics, 46 (2018) 3, S. 874-888 PDF als Volltext Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Beigaben	Literaturangaben
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; gedruckt; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0147-5967
ISBN	01475967
DOI	10.1016/j.jce.2018.07.013
Schlagwörter	Forschungsergebnis; Leistungsanalyse; Geschlechtsspezifischer Unterschied; Geschlechterforschung; Mathematik; Mathematikunterricht; Arbeitsmarkt; Mädchen; DDR; Ostdeutschland
Abstract	This paper argues that the socialist episode in East Germany, which constituted a radical experiment in gender equality in the labor market and other instances, has left persistent tracks on gender norms. We focus on one of the most resilient and pervasive gender gaps in modern societies: mathematics. Using the German division as a natural experiment, we show that the underperformance of girls in math is sharply reduced in the regions of the former GDR, in contrast with those of the former FRG. We show that this East-West difference is due to girls' attitudes, confidence and competitiveness in math, and not to other confounding factors, such as the difference in economic conditions or teaching styles across the former political border. We also provide illustrative evidence that the gender gap in math is smaller in European countries that used to be part of the Soviet bloc, as opposed to the rest of Europe. The lesson is twofold: (1) a large part of the pervasive gender gap in math is due to social stereotypes; (2) institutions can durably modify these stereotypes (Orig.).
Erfasst von	DIPF \| Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsforschung und Bildungsinformation, Frankfurt am Main
Update	2025/4