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Key Findings- (1)(2)(3)

Key Finding 1

Gender Differences in High School Students' Background and Preparation for
Understanding the First Amendment

How do male and female high school students differ in their educational extra-curricular experiences that might have a bearing on First Amendment attitudes?

Virtually no differences were detected between male students and female students in the classes they have taken about the media and their rights.  58% of the male students indicated they’ve taken classes on the First Amendment, as compared to 59% of females.  Additionally, 50% of the male students indicated they have taken classes that discuss the role of media in society, as compared to 53% of females.

There was also little or no difference in the degree to which male and female high school students currently participate in student media activities.  Males outpaced females by only a single percentage point in their participation in student magazines, radio stations and television stations; meanwhile, females (8%) were only slightly more likely than males (7%) to participate in student newspapers.  A slightly larger gap occurred with regard to student participation in Internet publications: males (6%) were 2 percentage points more likely than females (4%) to participate in those types of publications.

“Please indicate whether or not you have been actively involved in any of the following [student-run]activities [with a news component]…”

By contrast, a distinct gender gap was found in the motivations of high school students who don’t currently participate in the student media.  By a 2-to-1 margin, female students that don’t currently participate in student newspapers are more likely to desire such participation in the future (31%), as compared to just 16% of non-participating male students who showed such an interest.  Non-participating female students (21%) were also more interested than their male counterparts (10%) in participating in the future in student magazines with a news component, as well as on student-run television news stations (30% of non-participating females, as compared to 23% of non-participating males).

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