Across the world, girls are more likely than boys to blame academic failure on a lack of talent, according to a large study on gender stereotypes published Wednesday last week.
Paradoxically, the idea that males are inherently more brilliant was most entrenched in countries that are more egalitarian.
Such stereotypes have been explored in the past, but the new work, published in the journal Science Advances, has the advantage of encompassing 500,000 students across the world, making it possible to compare between countries.
Photo: EPA-EFE 照片:歐新社
It used data from the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a study conducted every three years to learn more about the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students in math, reading, and sciences.
The 2018 survey included the sentence: “When I am failing, I am afraid that I might not have enough talent.”
The result: in 71 of the 72 countries studied, even when performance was equal, girls were more inclined to attribute their failures to a lack of talent than boys, who were likelier to blame external factors. The sole exception was Saudi Arabia.
Contrary to what one may expect, the differences were most pronounced in wealthy nations.
The less talented that girls believe they are compared to boys, the less confidence they have, the less they enjoy competition, and the less willing they are to work in male-dominated occupations such as information and communication technology.
The result “suggests that the glass ceiling is unlikely to disappear as countries develop or become more gender-egalitarian,” the authors said in the paper.
A proposed solution: “Stop thinking in terms of innate talent,” said study co-author Thomas Breda, of CNRS and the Paris School of Economics.
“Success comes from learning through trial and error. If we deconstruct the concept of pure talent, we will also deconstruct the idea that girls are less naturally endowed with talent than boys.”
(AFP)
根據上週三發表的一項對性別刻板印象的大型研究,各國的女孩比男孩更有可能將學業上的失敗歸咎於缺乏天賦。
弔詭的是,認為男性天生較聰明的這種想法,在較平等的國家最為根深蒂固。
像這樣的刻板印象過去已有所探討,但這項發表在《科學前緣》期刊上的新研究涵蓋了全球五十萬名學生,這種優勢讓不同國家間之情況能夠進行比較。
該研究採用了二○一八年國際學生能力評量計劃(PISA)之數據,此評量計劃每三年舉辦一次,旨在對十五歲學生在數學、閱讀及科學方面的知識與技能有更多了解。
二○一八年的調查中有這句話:「我失敗時,我怕自己可能沒有足夠的天賦」。
研究之結果為:即便在男女成績相同之情況下,在所研究的七十二個國家中,有七十一國的女孩比男孩更傾向將失敗歸因於自己缺乏天賦,男孩則傾向將失敗歸咎於外部因素。唯一例外的國家是沙烏地阿拉伯。
與所預期的相反,這種差異在富裕國家最為明顯。
女孩越認為自己的才華比不上男孩,她們就越沒有自信、越不喜歡競爭,也就越不願意從事資訊及通訊科技等男性主導的行業。
作者在論文中表示,研究結果「表明,國家發展進步或變得更加性別平等,玻璃天花板仍不太可能隨之消失」。
建議解決方式:「不要去想與生俱來的天賦」,該研究之共同作者、法國國家科學研究中心及巴黎經濟學院的湯馬斯‧布瑞達說。
「成功來自於反覆嘗試、在錯誤中學習,如果我們解構純粹天賦的概念,也會解構女孩之才能天生不如男孩的觀念」。
(台北時報林俐凱編譯)
A: Taiwanese-language pop singer Jody Chiang is finally staging a comeback after having “turned off the microphone” for nine years. B: Yeah, she’s set to perform for the National Day celebration at the Taipei Dome this Saturday. A: As the best Taiwanese-language singer, it would be a big loss if she continued her hiatus. B: Recently, Chiang revealed that she quit singing in 2015 due to cancer. A: That’s shocking. But it’s great to see her healthy and able to turn the mic back on again. A: 台語歌后江蕙「封麥」9年後,終於即將復開唱了。 B: 對啊她本週六將參加國慶晚會,在大巨蛋開唱。 A: 江蕙可是最棒的台語歌手,如果不唱歌太可惜了。 B: 她最近才透露,其實2015年是因為罹癌才會「封麥」。 A: 真是令人震驚!能再看到她健康地「開麥」太好啦。 (By Eddy Chang,
A: Apart from Taiwanese-language pop diva Jody Chiang’s comeback, South Korean girl group (G)I-dle is also performing in Taiwan this weekend. B: I know. They have concerts at the Taipei Arena on Saturday and Sunday. A: Actually, to meet their fans’ high demand, they’ve added one more show on Friday. B: They’re even adding a show? That shows how popular they are. A: My favorite group member is Taiwan’s Susan Yeh, known by her stage name “Shuhua.” Let’s go cheer her on. A: 本週末除了江蕙復出,南韓熱門女團(G)I-dle也將開唱唷。 B: 我知道,他們本週六、日將在小巨蛋開唱。 A: 應粉絲的要求,他們本週五還會加場。 B: 還加場?不愧是韓流人氣女團。 A: 我最喜歡台灣團員葉舒華!我們快去幫她加油吧。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park is a great example of how art can be combined with environmental conservation. __1__ on the ocean floor of the Caribbean Sea, this aquatic gallery was the brainchild of British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006. The park features sculptures that function as man-made coral reefs, with holes and shelters to attract marine life, thus forming a strikingly beautiful __2__. The sculptures are placed in a way that diverts visitors from nearby natural reefs. This creative approach to ecological preservation demonstrates how art can inspire, educate, and contribute to the sustainability of our environment. The
City life moves fast, and escalators are a lifesaver for busy commuters. __1__ It is widely believed that this practice keeps traffic flowing smoothly and avoids congestion. While on the road, drivers of slower vehicles are required to remain within the outside lane so that those traveling at faster speeds may pass in the inside lane. Similar to traffic lanes that separate vehicles driving at different speeds, this convention on escalators allows for both efficiency and courtesy. __2__ This system reflects an unspoken understanding that facilitates shared use of the space. However, the city of Nagoya, Japan, has