.jpg)
Email this article 
.png)
.png)
Towards Gender Equality in STEM Fields: Gender Similarities in Students’ Mathematical Literacy
Abstract
Understanding core concepts in STEM fields requires strong mathematical literacy to solve complex problems, think analytically, and reason methodically. However, Indonesian students continue to score low in international assessments such as PISA, with gender disparities favoring boys reported in some countries. This study investigates gender differences in mathematical literacy performance among public middle school students in Kupang, a region with limited prior research on this topic. Using secondary data from a school-based survey involving 377 students selected through two-stage cluster random sampling, we analyzed test scores across overall performance, content domains, and process domains. After confirming assumptions of normality and homogeneity, gender-based comparisons were conducted using one-way ANOVA. Results indicate no statistically significant gender differences in overall mathematical literacy, nor in any content (quantity, change and relationship, space and shape, uncertainty and data) or process domains (formulating, employing, interpreting). Effect size calculations also confirmed the absence of a gender gap. These findings support the gender similarities hypothesis and suggest that both boys and girls are equally capable in mathematical reasoning. Promoting this equality can help counter gender stereotypes and foster balanced participation in STEM fields. Educators and policymakers should leverage these insights to design equitable math instruction and encourage greater female representation in mathematics-intensive careers
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Anker, R. (1997). Theories of occupational segregation by sex: An overview. International Labour Review, 136(3), 315-340. https://researchrepository.ilo.org/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Theories-of-occupational-segregation-by-sex/995274776102676
Arora, A. and Pawlowksi, E. (2017). Examining Gender Differences in the Mathematical Literacy of 15-Year-Olds and the Numeracy Skills of the Age Cohorts as Adults. Washington, D.C.: Author.
Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia [Central Bureau of Statistics of Indonesia]. (2019). Keadaan Angkatan Kerja di Indonesia [Labor Force Situation in Indonesia]. Jakarta: BPS RI/BPS-Statistics Indonesia.
Borgonovi, F., Choi, Á., & Paccagnella, M. (2021). The evolution of gender gaps in numeracy and literacy between childhood and adulthood. Economic of Education Review, Elsevier, 82(102119). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102119
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2009). May 2008 National Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates. Washington, DC: Author.
Cavanagh, S. (2008). Stereotype of mathematical inferiority still plagues girls. Education Week, 28(1), 9. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/stereotype-of-mathematical-inferiority-still-plagues-girls/2008/08
Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112 (1), 155-159. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.155
Dao Samo, D., Dominikus, W. S. and Kerans, D. (2020). Literasi matematis siswa sekolah menengah di Kabupaten Kupang (high school students’ mathematical literacy in Kupang regency). Fraktal: Jurnal Matematika dan Pendidikan Matematika (JMPM), 1(1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.35508/fractal.v1i1.2973
Field, A. (2000). Discovering Statistics using SPSS for Windows. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Flabbi, L. (2012). Gender differences in education, career choices and labor market outcomes on a sample of OECD countries [World Development Report Background Papers]. World Bank: Author.
Fointuna, D. W. (2021). Applying Mamdani’s method to categorize mathematical literacy of public middle school students in Kupang. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1957 012009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1957/1/012009
Fointuna, D. W., Kaluge, A. H. and Fernandez, A. J. (2020). An analysis of mathematical literacy of state junior high school students in Kupang. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1422 012025. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1422/1/012025
Hidayatullah A., Csíkos C. (2022). Assessing students’ mathematics-related beliefs system in the Indonesian context. AIP Conf. Proc. 2633, 030014. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0102302
Hidayatullah A., Csíkos C. (2023). Exploring Students’ Mathematical Beliefs: Gender, Grade, and Culture Differences. Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, 16(3), pp. 186-195. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2023.160303
Hyde, J. S. (2005). The gender similarities hypothesis. The American Psychological Association, 60(6), 581-592. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.60.6.581
Hyde, J. S. (2014). Gender similarities and differences. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 373-398. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115057
Hyde, J. S., Lindberg, S. M., Linn, M. C., Ellis, A. B. and Williams, C. C. (2008). Gender similarities characterize math performance. Science, 321(5888), 494–495. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1160364
Hyde, J. S. and Linn, M. C. (2006). DIVERSITY: Enhanced: Gender similarities in mathematics and science. Science, 314(5799), 599–600. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1132154
Jannah, R. D., Putri, R. I. I. and Zulkardi. (2018). PISA-like mathematics problem: The context of basketball in Asian Games. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1088 012019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1088/1/012019
Kim, H. Y. (2013). Statistical notes for clinical researchers: assessing normal distribution (2) using skewness and kurtosis. ISSN 2234-7658 (print)/ ISSN 2234-7666 (online). http://dx.doi.org/10.5395/rde.2013.38.1.52
Krejcie, R. V. and Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30 (1), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
Lailiyah, S. (2017). Mathematical literacy skills of students in term of gender differences. AIP Conference Proceedings 1868, 050019. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4995146
National Research Council. (2001). Adding it up: Helping children learn mathematics. In J. Kilpatrick, J. Swafford, & B. Findell (Eds.), Mathematics Learning Study Committee, Center for Education, Division of Behavior and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Nizar, H., Putri, R. I. I. and Zulkardi. (2018). PISA-like mathematics problem with karate context in Asian Games. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1088 012063. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1088/1/012063
OECD. (2005). PISA 2003 Technical Report. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2013). PISA 2012 Assessment and Analytical Framework: Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Financial Literacy. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2014a). PISA 2012 Data, in PISA 2012 Results: What Students Know and Can Do (Volume I, Revised edition, February 2014): Student Performance in Mathematics, Reading and Science. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2014b). PISA 2012 Results: What Students Know and Can Do – Student Performance in Mathematics, Reading and Science. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2015). The ABC of Gender Equality in Education: Aptitude, Behaviour, Confidence. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2016a). PISA 2015 Assessment and Analytical Framework: Science, Reading, Mathematics, and Financial Literacy. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2016b). PISA 2015 Results (Volume 1): Excellence and Equity in Education. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2019a). PISA 2018 Result (Country Note): What 15-year-old Students in Indonesia Know and Can Do. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2019b). PISA 2018: Insights and Interpretations. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Prabawati, M., & Herman, T. (2019). Mathematical literacy skills students of the junior high school in term of gender differences Mathematical literacy skills students of the junior high school in term of gender differences. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1315, 1– 6. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1315/1/012084
Rifai and Wutsqa, D. U. (2017). Kemampuan Literasi Matematika Siswa SMP Negeri Se-Kabupaten Bantul [Mathematical literacy of public middle school students in Bantul regecy]. Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika dan Sains, 4(2), 54-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.21831/jpms.v5i2.15747
Scafidi, T. and Bui, K. (2010). Gender similarities in math performance from middle school to high school. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 37(3), 252-255. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Gender-Similarities-in-Math-Performance-from-Middle-Scafidi-Bui/6d296ac996c6e88d44282434edb369669d0118c2?utm_source=direct_link
Stacey, K. (2011). The PISA view of mathematical literacy in Indonesia. IndoMS. J. M. E., 2(2), 95-126. https://dx.doi.org/10.22342/jme.2.2.746.95%20-%20126
Welkowitz, J., Cohen, B. H. and Ewen, R. B. (2006). Introductory Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences Sixth Edition. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Yansen, D., Putri, R. I. I. and Zulkardi. (2018). Mathematical problems of PISA-like with the 200m swimming context in Asian Games. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1088 012086. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1088/1/012086
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/ijpte.v9i1.99015
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Daniel Williams Fointuna, Catherine Riegle-Crumb
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
|
