A recent study published in Developmental Psychology titled "What I Say Is Not What I Do: Gender Differences in the Home Mathematics Environment" by Varnell et al. (2025) sheds light on how parental beliefs and behaviors may differ based on the child's gender, potentially influencing children's attitudes and achievements in mathematics.
Key Findings
1. Parental Beliefs vs. Actions
The study found discrepancies between what parents believe and how they engage with their children in math-related activities. While parents often express the importance of mathematics equally for both sons and daughters, their interactions suggest a bias.
2. Gendered Interactions
Parents were observed to engage more frequently in math-related activities with sons than with daughters. This difference in engagement could contribute to the development of gender-specific attitudes toward mathematics from an early age.
3. Impact on Children's Attitudes
The differential treatment and engagement may lead to boys developing more confidence and interest in mathematics, while girls might perceive math as less relevant to them, influencing their future academic choices and achievements.
Implications for Parents and Educators
- Awareness
Recognizing unconscious biases is the first step. Parents and educators should reflect on their interactions to ensure they are providing equal encouragement and opportunities for both boys and girls in mathematics.
- Active Engagement
Deliberately involve daughters in math-related activities, discussions, and problem-solving tasks to foster interest and confidence.
- Positive Reinforcement
Encourage all children by highlighting the importance and applicability of mathematics in everyday life, ensuring that enthusiasm and support are not gender-biased.
- Educational Resources
Provide access to math-related games, books, and tools that appeal to all genders, breaking the stereotype that math is predominantly a male domain.
Take home message
The study by Varnell et al. emphasizes the need to align parental beliefs with actions to create a supportive and unbiased home mathematics environment. By doing so, we can help bridge the gender gap in mathematics achievement and encourage all children to pursue their interests without the constraints of societal biases.
For a more in-depth understanding, you can access the full study [here](https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001901).
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