There are many benefits to girls being educated in the single-sex environment where there are no expectations that they should fulfil traditional gender stereotypes in subjects they study, activities they participate in or careers they pursue.
Research shows that girls have access to all leadership opportunities, achieve greater academic success, and are more confident and assertive in single-sex environments. They are also more likely to study in the ‘gender atypical’ areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at school and university, and are more likely to pursue a career in these non-traditional areas.
Why? Without competition from boys, girls in girls’ schools are free to pursue academic excellence in any area they choose.
Research shows that single-sex educated girls receive a less gender-stereotyped development than co-educated girls.
- Girls as young as six can be led to believe men are inherently smarter and more talented than women, making girls less motivated to pursue novel activities or ambitious careers.
- Dr. Sarah-Jane Leslie, Princeton University and Dr. Andrei Cimpian, New York University, Gender Stereotypes About Intellectual Ability Emerge Early and Influence Children’s Interests - All-girls educational environments negate this societal norm by providing opportunities for girls during a critical time in their growth and development. Not only do girls receive a wealth of avenues for self-exploration and development, they also see a wealth of peer role models. Girls need to ‘see it, to be it’ to make them more aware of the possibilities in their own lives and help set them on their own brilliant paths.
- Megan Murphy, Executive Director, National Coalition of Girls’ Schools - Research shows that nearly 87% of girls in single-sex schools feel their opinions are respected at school compared to only 58% of girls in coeducational schools.
- Dr. Richard A. Holmgren, Allegheny College, Steeped in Learning: The Student Experience at All-Girls Schools - Girls’ school graduates are 6 times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology compared to girls who attended coeducational schools.
- Goodman Research Group, The Girls’ School Experience: A Survey of Young Alumnae of Single-Sex Schools - Compared to coeducated peers, girls’ school graduates are 3 times more likely to consider engineering careers.
- Dr. Linda Sax, UCLA, Women Graduates of Single-Sex and Coeducational High Schools: Differences in their Characteristics and the Transition to College
Research shows that girls in girls' only schools feel more empowered and self-confident compared to girls in co-educational schools.
There are many and varied benefits of single-sex schooling for girls. For further information and research on all girls schooling please visit The International Coalition of Girls' Schools.
