(2339) EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL ROLES IN DAILY LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS IN MATHS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCES FROM ITALIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL

摘要

The aim of this paper is to verify the existence of a relationship between students’ test scores in Mathematics and their perception of male and female social roles both in domestic and working life. In order to do this, we administered a Math achievement test to pupils attending the 5th grade level of primary school and a set of items aimed at investigate 1. Students’ mental representation of distribution of concerns and duties between men and women in daily routine; and, pupils’ perception about some scientific jobs, such as mathematician, scientist, astronaut, and so on. Are they male or female jobs? By using pupils’ answers, we created two new variables (1. Woman is the angel of the house; and, 2. Job index), and we associated them to students’ Math ability estimated by using the Rasch model. Our analyses highlighted a strong association between pupils’ socio-cultural background (SCB), pupils’ perception of male and female social roles, and Math test scores.