Short- and long-term consequences of teachers' gender biases

Short- and long-term consequences of teachers' gender biases

A Women in Economics Network (WEN) Event

Presentation by Dr. Rigissa Megalokonomou, University of Queensland

Abstract: Recent research focuses on factors determining gender differences in academic achievements and in university field of study. In this study we focus on how teachers’ gender role attitudes and stereotypes influence the gender gap by affecting the environment at school. We explore the extent to which teachers’ gender bias in high school influences students’ academic performance in high-stake exams that determine admission to universities and on students’ choice of university field of study.  We introduce a new way of measuring teacher gender bias and we link teachers over time to get a persistent measure of their bias based on many classes.

About the presenter:   Rigissa Megalokonomou is a Lecturer at the University of Queensland, which she joined in 2016. She is also a Research Affiliate at the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). She is an applied economist and her research combines micro-econometric techniques with the collection of unique, large datasets in understanding policy-related questions. Her expertise is in the economics of education, labour economics and immigration economics. Her research focuses on understanding how social comparisons and interactions affect students' productivity, educational choices and labor market outcomes. She is also working on understanding the causes of gender biases and discrimination. Rigissa graduated top of her BSc in Economics class at the University of Athens in Greece. She holds an MSc in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Essex, UK and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Warwick, UK. Unicredit & Universities Young Economist Prize and Varvaresou Outstanding Research Award are amongst Rigissa’s varied honors and fellowships. Her research has been featured at The Conversation, LSE EUROPP and Epoch Times.  

Date and Time: Friday, August 31, 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Venue: Gibson Room, Level 10, Z Block, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus

Cost: Nil as the event is subsidised by Queensland University of Technology and University of Queensland.

Registrations close Monday, August 27.

A light lunch will be provided from 12noon, with the presentation commencing from 12.30pm.