Education Review Issue 7 October-November 2021 | Page 29

school management
Girls ’ self-confidence is being eroded by the effects of gender biases and stereotyping .

Girls to the front

How girls ’ schools foster confidence and shape the female leaders of tomorrow .
By Marise McConaghey

When it comes to the benefits of an all-girls education – and there are many – there is one that I believe sits firmly above the rest , and that ’ s the confidence that all girls ’ schools instill in their students .

From the age of eight , girls ’ confidence tends to dip below that of their male peers , falling by up to 30 per cent between the ages of 8 and 14 . Sadly , this gap doesn ’ t close until women reach their 80s . There are a number of factors that contribute to this drop in confidence .
Psychologists speculate that as girls approach adolescence , “ rumination ” or “ dwelling extensively on negative feelings ” might contribute to them becoming more cautious and less likely to take risks . The idea of perfection , purity and goodness , honed by decades of cultural influence , also plays a role in the degradation of girls ’ confidence , while the media ’ s tendency to showcase highlights over realistic depictions of women can also impact adolescents today .
However , there is extensive research that demonstrates there is one group of girls that retains higher levels of confidence despite these influences – those educated in an all-girls environment .
The 2018 Hands up for Gender Equality study by the University of Queensland found that the top three activities correlated to self-confidence in young women and men are travel , team sport , and participation in leadership roles and leadership development . Without the presence of boys and the increased selfconsciousness often attached to this , girls feel more empowered to participate fully in these activities . In fact , the same study revealed that girls educated in single-sex schools are equally as self-confident as boys educated in single-sex schools .
This could lead us to conclude that girls ’ self-confidence is being eroded by the effects of gender biases and stereotyping found in some co-educational settings .
Girls ’ schools challenge unhelpful and harmful gender roles by providing a safe environment for girls to try new things , take risks , and pursue excellence in any area they choose , including traditionally male-dominated subjects such as mathematics and the sciences . I would go as far to say that in many all girls ’ schools , it simply doesn ’ t occur to students that they can ’ t do or be what they desire .
A separate 2018 study by the University of California found that not only were graduates from all girls ’ schools more likely to consider themselves critical thinkers , but displayed higher levels of self-confidence than their co-educated counterparts . With more than 30 years ’ experience in education , this is not surprising to me , as without the pressures and increased scrutiny ( real and perceived ) that can occur in co-educational settings , girls feel less inhibited to forge their own path .
The self-confidence girls formulate in these years is particularly important when it comes to developing leadership skills . We live in a time where a stubborn wage gap persists and where the number of women in senior leadership roles continues to lag behind that of men . Therefore , young women need to be resilient and self-assured in their abilities and capacity to lead if they ’ re to finally even out these statistics .
As the saying goes , “ You can ’ t be what you can ’ t see ”, which is why we expose our students to a range of female leaders from all fields , while also providing them with opportunities to lead in ways both large and small . Our Year Nine TC Envision program sees students work in small groups to create real-life businesses with the support and guidance of successful female business owners , equipping them with valuable and sought-after skills like entrepreneurialism , critical thinking , problem solving , collaboration , creativity and resilience . Skills that will equip them well for whatever path they choose to pursue .
Ultimately , a child ’ s learning environment impacts their view of themselves and their place in the world , which is why we should strive to create a safe and supportive space where girls have the opportunity and the drive to try new things , discover their talents , and develop a strong sense of self and the confidence that will enable them to strive for their goals , regardless of the environment they find themselves in or its gender makeup . ■
Marise McConaghy is the principal at Strathcona Girls Grammar in Melbourne .
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