Should educators and parents encourage other-gender interactions? Gender segregation and sexism

• Published in: Gender and education Vol. 25; no. 7; pp. 818 - 833
• Main Authors: Keener, Emily, Mehta, Clare, Strough, JoNell
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01-12-2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescents; Boys; Defense Mechanisms; Developmental Psychology; Females; Friendship; Gender Bias; Gender Differences; Gender differentiation; Gender Discrimination; Girls; Hypothesis Testing; Interaction; Path Analysis; Peer Relationship; Peer relationships; Peers; Pennsylvania; Preferences; Racism; Regression (Statistics); Resistance (Psychology); Schools; Segregation; Sex; Sexism; single sex education; Single Sex Schools; Social Attitudes; Social Bias; Social interaction; Social Psychology; Stereotypes; Teachers; Teenagers; West Virginia; West Virginia; Pennsylvania
• ISSN: 0954-0253; 1360-0516
• DOI: 10.1080/09540253.2013.845648

We investigated gender differences in the association between gender-segregated peer preferences and sexism in adolescents (15-17 years, 60 boys and 85 girls). To assess gender-segregated peer preferences, adolescents nominated peers for interaction in two contexts: 'hanging out' at home and working on a school project. The Modern Sexism Scale [Swim, J. K., K. J. Aikin, W. S. Hall, and B. A. Hunter. 1995. "Sexism and Racism: Old-Fashioned and Modern Prejudices." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 68 (2): 199-214] measured two dimensions of sexism: Antagonism towards Women's Demands (believing feminist issues are unimportant) and denial of continuing discrimination (believing gender discrimination no longer exists). For boys, Antagonism towards Women's Demands was associated with gender-segregated peer preferences in the school and home context. For girls, Denial of Continuing Discrimination was associated with gender-segregated peer preferences in the home context. Results are informative for educators and for other professionals interested in reducing inequality and sexism among adolescents.