Skip to main content
Log in

An investigation of sex discrimination in the awarding of financial aid to college students

  • Published:
Research in Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated whether or not sex discrimination existed in awarding financial aid to college students in 40 midwestern colleges and universities. It examined whether there were significant differences in financial aid awards to incoming freshmen when financial aid directors reviewed simulated aid profiles, which were identical except for the sex and a picture of the applicant. It also examined whether awards varied by type of educational institution. The results yielded no significant differences for either sex or type of institution comparisons, although there was extensive variability in the amounts awarded. If the directors react to real-life profiles as they did to the simulated ones, the federal guidelines would appear sufficient in this instance to prevent sex discrimination.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Feldman-Summers, S. A., and Kiesler, S. B. (1974). Those who are number two try harder: The effects of sex on attribution of causality. J. Personality Soc. Psychol. 30: 846–855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, P. A. (1958). Are women prejudiced against women? Transaction 5:28–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, A. (1970). The second sex in academe. Am. Assoc. Univ. Professors Bull. 56: 283–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilman, M. E. (1975). Miss, Mrs., Ms., or none of the above. Am. Psychol. 30: 516–518.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjerulff, K. H., and Blood, M. R. (1973). A comparison of communication patterns in male and female graduate students. J. Higher Ed. 44: 623–632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lunneborg, C. E., and Lunneborg, P. W. (1973). Doctoral study: attrition in psychology. Res. Higher Ed. 1: 379–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pheterson, G. I., Kiesler, S. B., and Goldberg, P. A. (1971). Evaluation of the performance of women as a function of sex, achievement, and personal history. J. Personality Soc. Psychol. 19: 114–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, L. C. (1973). Women in doctoral education: clues and puzzles regarding institutional discrimination. Res. Higher Ed. 1: 299–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Synder, F. A. (1971). Financial assistance in selected Pennsylvania community colleges and its relationship to persistence and achievement. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland.

  • Taynor, J., and Deaux, K. (1973). When women are more deserving than men: equity, attribution, and perceived sex differences. J. Personality Soc. Psychol. 28: 360–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taynor, J., and Deaux, K. (1975). Equity and perceived sex differences: role behavior as defined by task, mode and the actor. J. Personality Soc. Psychol. 32: 381–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Civil Rights (1975). Final Title IX regulations implementing education admendments of 1972 prohibiting sex discrimination in education. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brown, R.D., Heath, H. An investigation of sex discrimination in the awarding of financial aid to college students. Res High Educ 6, 355–361 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992179

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992179

Key words

Navigation