Globalisation Gender Sensitivity in the Teaching of Mathematics in Higher Education

Abstract

The teaching of mathematics globally at university level, has created an environment that favours the performance of men over women. Men tend to perform better than women at university level. The gender gap has been explained by using biological and social cultural theories. It is also noted that at doctoral level the number of women who earn degrees is very minimal and the women graduates tend to be viewed as less competent when compared with men. The study employs poststructural feminism, socialcultural, and situated learning theories to explore the gender gap in mathematics. Gender stereotypes seem to have a major impact on performance of women in mathematics.