Work

The changing face of cognitive gender differences in Europe

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Cognitive gender differences and the reasons for their origins have fascinated researchers for decades. Using nationally representative data to investigate gender differences in cognitive performance in middle-aged and older populations across Europe, we show that the magnitude of these differences varies systematically across cognitive tasks, birth cohorts, and regions, but also that the living conditions and educational opportunities individuals are exposed to during their formative years are related to their later cognitive performance. Specifically, we demonstrate that improved living conditions and less gender-restricted educational opportunities are associated with increased gender differences favoring women in some cognitive functions (i.e., episodic memory) and decreases (i.e., numeracy) or elimination of differences in other cognitive abilities (i.e., category fluency). Our results suggest that these changes take place due to a general increase in women's cognitive performance over time, associated with societal improvements in living conditions and educational opportunities.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1319538111

Authors: Daniela Weber, Vegard Skirbekk, Inga Freund, Agneta Herlitz

Institutions: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, TU Wien, Karolinska Institutet

Language: English

Topic: Cognitive Abilities and Testing

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: bronze