Gender Bias

Title IX

Gender bias in education gained attention in the 1960s. Before this, classes were often segregated according to sex, and educational expectations were gender specific. Girls were expected to take home economics, while boys were encouraged to take shop, math, and science courses and participate in sports. In 1972, Congress enacted Title IX, an education amendment that prohibited sex-based discrimination in schools under penalty of loss of federal funds. Since the enactment of Title IX, education in the United States has made significant advancements toward gender equality. However, while blatant forms of gender bias have been removed from the classroom, subtle gender biases continue to exist.

Socialization and Academic Performance

At first glance, it may seem that boys are currently the endangered gender in the U.S. education system. Male students comprise 80% of high school dropouts and 66% of the learning-disabled population within U.S. schools. Compared with female students, male students struggle with reading and writing, receive a higher percentage of failing grades, and are less likely to attend college. However, substantial evidence suggests that despite the fact that females have surpassed males in many ways, girls are still discriminated against within education.

In elementary school, girls match or exceed male performance across subjects and assessments. However, by twelfth grade, most girls have fallen behind. This trend is visible in overall performance and is most pronounced in the areas of math, science, and technology. High school girls tend to perceive these courses as difficult, masculine subjects and often avoid taking them. Additionally, counselors and teachers do not actively encourage girls to pursue these areas. Without knowledge of these subjects, girls limit their career options and are effectively excluded from many lucrative career opportunities. Girls also perform less well than boys on standardized tests, such as the SAT, and consequentially receive less academic scholarships than boys.

As these gender discrepancies are not apparent in early education, they likely are due to gender differences in socialization. Modern Western standards of femininity have a negative impact on girls' self-esteem and career aspirations. Girls are evaluated on their appearance and are praised for being quiet, composed, and tidy. Beauty, popularity, and conformity become priorities for young women, often at the expense of their academic performance. In contrast, boys are taught to value independence and competence and are allowed to show more assertive and disruptive behaviors.

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