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AAUW's first research study in 1885 dispelled the popular notion that
higher education adversely affects women's health. Since then, AAUW
Educational Foundation-sponsored research has often merited national
attention. AAUW has published several national studies. For
information about them, please go the the Foundation
Research
page. This research has explored various aspects of equity in the classroom, focusing
especially on the middle-school years. The Foundation research has led to branch
educational equity projects. Projects and resources in the field are profiled in the
Educational Equity section of our site.
Here, we highlight a few of the more recent reports:
 Under the Microscope: A Decade of Gender Equity
Projects in the Sciences (2004) examines
and analyzes more than 400 gender equity projects
specifically aimed at increasing the participation
of girls and women in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The research
for the report was funded by a National Science
Foundation grant and conducted by Yasmin Kafai and
a team of researchers at the University of
California, Los Angeles.
One student in five fears being hurt or
bothered in school; four students in five
personally experience sexual harassment. These are
among the findings of
Hostile Hallways: Bullying, Teasing, and Sexual
Harassment in School (updated 2004), a
nationally representative survey of 2,064 eighth-
through 11th-graders. The report investigates
sexual harassment in public schools, comparing the
findings with AAUW's original survey in
1993 and
exploring differences in responses by gender,
race/ethnicity, grade level, and area (urban or
suburban/rural). Conducted by Harris Interactive.
Free copies of the guide are available.
Students, parents, and educators can also
refer to
Harassment-Free Hallways: How to Stop Sexual
Harassment in Schools (2002), a resource
guide developed by a task force the Foundation
convened in response to the findings in
Hostile Hallways.
 Women at Work (Summer 2003) combines
interview and survey data with recent U.S. census
statistics to explore how women are faring in
today’s work force and what their prospects are
for future job success and security.
An accompanying action guide helps AAUW
members and others translate the research
findings into action. The guide is available
through
ShopAAUW or members can access it free of
charge through the
Member Center.
 The
Third Shift: Women Learning Online (2001) explores why women
pursue education; how they balance work, family, and education; and what
would make distance learning easier for them, and makes recommendations
for improvements.
Beyond
the “Gender Wars”: A Conversation About Girls, Boys, and Education
(2001) offers key insights presented during a Foundation symposium of
scholars who study both girls’ and boys’ experiences in and out of
school. Participants share their insights about gender identity and
difference, challenge popular views of girls’ and boys’ behavior, and
explore the meaning of equitable education for the 21st century.
 ¡Si,
Se Puede! Yes, We Can: Latinas in School (2000), reviews
the educational status and progress of Latinas in the United States,
exploring the cultural conflicts between Hispanic children and the schools
they attend. The report includes state-specific data for California.
Published in both English and Spanish, copies of it were given to all of
the Latina members of the California Legislature.
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