School as a Zero-Sum Game between Boys and Girls: Gender Differences in Perceptions. Issue 1 (9th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sicard, Alyson; Martinot, Delphine
• Is Part Of: International review of social psychology. Volume 31:Issue 1(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-07-09
• Subjects: zero-sum beliefs -- gender competition -- academic context; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.5334/irsp.158
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2397-8570

Abstract

Several studies have reported the existence of a gender gap in academic achievement in favor of girls (Voyer & Voyer, 2014 ). The present study aims to investigate students' perceptions of the actual pattern of achievement by assessing their zero-sum beliefs (ZsB)—their tendency to perceive school as a zero-sum game between boys and girls. Based on previous studies showing that a threatening intergroup context influences men's perception of gender relations, we hypothesized that boys, but not girls, are more likely to endorse gender ZsB regarding school in a threatening academic context compared to less threatening contexts. The academic context was manipulated using short texts emphasizing either boys' or girls' academic achievement. As expected, the threatening intergroup comparison context led boys (but not girls) to endorse greater ZsB. Implications for achievement-related outcomes and gender relations are discussed.