Gender Differences in Attitudes toward Science

Abstract

Analysis of nationwide surveys taken from 1972 through 1990 showed that, at all education levels and in all age groups from 20 to 79 years, females had less confidence in science than males. Greater percentages of females than males agreed with statements that, “science breaks down people's ideas of right and wrong” and “science pries into things.” The relationships between gender differences in attitudes toward science and theories about biological differences in cognitive abilities between the sexes, traditional societal roles of women, and the impediments to participation of women in historically male-dominated science are discussed.