The social relevance and the socio-cultural origins of gender differences in spatial abilities

• Authors: Ruthsatz, Vera , Neuburger, Sarah , Quaiser-Pohl, Claudia

Title variants

EN

Społeczne znaczenie i społeczno-kulturowe pochodzenie różnic dotyczących zdolności przestrzennych kobiet i mężczyzn

Abstracts

EN

All over the world girls are still highly underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects in school, and only a small percentage of women choose occupational careers in that field. The socially-influenced gender differences in spatial abilities – particularly in the ability to rotate two- or three-dimensional objects in one’s mind – are considered as a cognitive mediator of that gender gap. This paper gives an overview of the social causes and social consequences of the gender differences in spatial abilities. It focuses on sociocultural influences, including gender stereotypes (e.g. the phenomenon of the “stereotype threat”), and the importance of role models in family and school. Furthermore, personal factors like the ability-related self-concept and the effects of experience and training are taken into consideration. The results of empirical studies are reported which reveal that mental-rotation performance is strongly influenced by gender-specific differences in spatial experiences, role models, the ability-related selfconcept and socio-economic status. Finally, the paper discusses why and how women`s perceived lack of spatial abilities might lead to gender-typical educational and occupational choices.

Keywords

EN

gender differences; spatial ability; occupational choices; training effects; role models; gender stereotypes

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Łódzki. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
• Journal: Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Sociologica
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 43

Dates

published

2012

Contributors

author

Ruthsatz, Vera

author

Neuburger, Sarah

author

Quaiser-Pohl, Claudia

other

Vera Ruthsatz -Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany

other

Sarah Neuburger -Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany

other

Claudia Quaiser-Pohl -Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany

Identifiers

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/11089/2645