Gender Self Confidence and Self Esteem

When asked to perform a task, especially a new one, females hesitate more than men. If woman
are given a task particularly the one usually associated with a male role, women tend to be less
self confidence than men; whereas actually they may perform the same way as men did (Beyer,
1990; Lenney, 1977). Although the gender difference in self-esteem may not be huge, men
generally score higher than women; a number of factors contribute to this difference. Women’s
perception of their sense of interdependence and connection with others largely influences their
self-esteem. Men’s self-esteem on the other hand has roots in their assessment of their unique
characteristics and abilities, traits that help them distinguish themselves form other people
(Feingold, 1994; King et al., 1999). Some studies have reported gender differences in terms of
how people make positive assessments of their abilities, and their potential for future success.
Women generally evaluate themselves more harshly than men. In one survey first-year college
students were asked to rate themselves as being above or below average. More men than women
rated themselves as above average. They felt they were above average in overall academic and
mathematical ability, competitiveness, an emotional health (Gabriel, Critelli, and Ee, 1994;
Orenstein, 2001).