Stereotype Endorsement And Mathematics-Related Behaviour Among Female Secondary School Students In The Kingdom Of Lesotho

Abstract

By endorsing the stereotypic belief that Mathematics is a male-only subject, some females accept the limitation placed on them by the gendering process and this inhibits the identification, development and utilization of their Mathematics ability for the development of self and the society. To determine the extent and effect of such endorsement on Mathematics performance and related behaviour of girls, a survey analytic study involving 442 randomly selected junior secondary school girls in the Kingdom of Lesotho was carried out. The results of appropriate data analyses to test thirteen research hypotheses showed a low level of stereotype endorsement of Mathematics as a male-only subject among the girls but confirmed the speculation that the level of such endorsement has significant influence on girls' performance in and behaviour related to the subject. These results were discussed and some recommendations made.

Gender and Behaviour Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 1494-1517