The Chronic Case of Chauvinism: These Times Are Changing

Abstract

This research project on chauvinism and gender differences was two-fold, combining the analyzed results of 13 meta-analyses and 3 long-term trend data studies with the results of eight case studies of interviewed women, ranging in age from 30 to 80. Qualitative analyses were conducted as to the types of male support they received in their lives, their experiences with chauvinism, how they coped with chauvinism, and their life decisions as a result of experiencing chauvinism. The variances between females and males on cognitive, intellectual, academic achievement and interests were examined in the research base and the case studies, questioning whether or not there is a gender difference, as well as the influences of culture, other people and academic expectations. Results showed a positive trend over time regarding chauvinism. In the earlier research studies there were more gender differences between males and females but with confounding variables such as testing instrumentation, testing bias, academic course work availability and conscious holding back of females in academics and careers. However, more recent studies showed a distinct lack of gender differences and some question of how much of the earlier results contributed to the building of a stereotypic view of females. In the case studies, younger women tended to experience less onerous types of chauvinism than did the older women, but all eight women experienced chauvinism in their lives and remembered it well. Results include the ways they learned to cope with chauvinism and how they moved forward in their lives and careers in spite of chauvinism.