Stereotypes of Disadvantaged Students Perpetuate Educational Disparities

This review documents trends in educational disparities related to students’ gender, race, social class, and college generational status. More women earn four-year degrees than men, yet they are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The racial gap in standardized testing still remains and continues to grow. The gap between high- and low-income students’ educational attainment is widening. A related phenomenon is the underrepresentation of first generation college students in higher education, particularly in elite universities, compared to their continuing generation counterparts. How do researchers account for these demographic disparities in higher education? Research from social psychology and related fields reports that social and cultural factors are largely responsible for creating and maintaining these educational disparities, thus social interventions can remedy this social problem. The chapter concludes by reviewing empirical work documenting the successful implementation of interventions to reduce achievement gaps.