Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students
The research analyzed the cognitive styles, sexist attitudes and social competencies that hinder gender equality in secondary education students. It identified sexist attitudes, cognitive styles and social skills that hinder change towards gender equality; explored significant differences in sexist...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/6/388 |
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| author | Laura Pérez-Díaz Macarena Blázquez-Alonso Juan Manuel Moreno-Manso María Guadalupe Lucas-Milán Pilar Cantillo-Cordero María Elena García-Baamonde |
| author_facet | Laura Pérez-Díaz Macarena Blázquez-Alonso Juan Manuel Moreno-Manso María Guadalupe Lucas-Milán Pilar Cantillo-Cordero María Elena García-Baamonde |
| author_sort | Laura Pérez-Díaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The research analyzed the cognitive styles, sexist attitudes and social competencies that hinder gender equality in secondary education students. It identified sexist attitudes, cognitive styles and social skills that hinder change towards gender equality; explored significant differences in sexist attitudes and cognitive strategies and social attitudes by age; studied the relationship between sexist attitudes and cognitive and social strategies that perpetuate gender inequality; and analyzed how age may predict the use of these strategies. A total of 1034 students aged 11 to 18 participated in a cross-sectional study. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory for Adolescents and the Questionnaire of Attitudes and Cognitive Social Strategies were administered. The results indicate that young people exhibit moderate levels of cognitive and social strategies that hinder the change in sexist behaviors. At ages 12–14, the acceptance of ambivalent and benevolent attitudes such as paternalism and heterosexual intimacy increases. We found greater aggressiveness–stubbornness, apathy–withdrawal, impulsivity, and rigidity of thought at ages 15–17. Age explains a small proportion of the variance in sexist attitudes, cognitive styles, and social competencies that hinder gender equality. The study highlights the need for coeducational measures that ensure equal cognitive and socio-emotional development in women and men. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ecf06d9bd3e74ea2a5666313b16009d1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-ecf06d9bd3e74ea2a5666313b16009d12025-08-20T03:26:55ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-06-0114638810.3390/socsci14060388Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education StudentsLaura Pérez-Díaz0Macarena Blázquez-Alonso1Juan Manuel Moreno-Manso2María Guadalupe Lucas-Milán3Pilar Cantillo-Cordero4María Elena García-Baamonde5Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, SpainThe research analyzed the cognitive styles, sexist attitudes and social competencies that hinder gender equality in secondary education students. It identified sexist attitudes, cognitive styles and social skills that hinder change towards gender equality; explored significant differences in sexist attitudes and cognitive strategies and social attitudes by age; studied the relationship between sexist attitudes and cognitive and social strategies that perpetuate gender inequality; and analyzed how age may predict the use of these strategies. A total of 1034 students aged 11 to 18 participated in a cross-sectional study. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory for Adolescents and the Questionnaire of Attitudes and Cognitive Social Strategies were administered. The results indicate that young people exhibit moderate levels of cognitive and social strategies that hinder the change in sexist behaviors. At ages 12–14, the acceptance of ambivalent and benevolent attitudes such as paternalism and heterosexual intimacy increases. We found greater aggressiveness–stubbornness, apathy–withdrawal, impulsivity, and rigidity of thought at ages 15–17. Age explains a small proportion of the variance in sexist attitudes, cognitive styles, and social competencies that hinder gender equality. The study highlights the need for coeducational measures that ensure equal cognitive and socio-emotional development in women and men.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/6/388cognitive strategiessocial attitudesgender equalityyoung peopleage |
| spellingShingle | Laura Pérez-Díaz Macarena Blázquez-Alonso Juan Manuel Moreno-Manso María Guadalupe Lucas-Milán Pilar Cantillo-Cordero María Elena García-Baamonde Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students Social Sciences cognitive strategies social attitudes gender equality young people age |
| title | Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students |
| title_full | Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students |
| title_short | Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students |
| title_sort | cognitive strategies and social attitudes that perpetuate gender inequality in secondary education students |
| topic | cognitive strategies social attitudes gender equality young people age |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/6/388 |
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