National education systems and gender gaps in STEM occupational expectations

This study examines associations between features of national education systems and the gender gap in STEM-related occupational expectations across 49 countries. Using data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the study finds no association between uniformity of curricula at the national level (standardization) and the gender gap in STEM occupational expectations; in contrast, the availability of more school types at the secondary level (stratification) is associated with a larger gender gap in STEM occupational expectations. In addition, this positive association between stratified systems and the gender gap in STEM occupational expectations is stronger for top-performers than for low-performers.