Sometimes women actually help men gain this advantage because they are more likely to ask questions while men are more likely to give answers. However, men often take this advantage for themselves by interrupting women and by answering questions that are not addressed to them. Gender segregation may occur in more subtle ways, but it is widespread. Teachers, or students themselves, frequently form separate boy and girl lines, seating arrangements, work groups, play areas, and even science lab work teams. Even college classrooms display gender segregation in student seating arrangements.
Children cross racial lines more often than gender lines in classroom communication.
Some researchers have found that students are often unwilling to work together on science projects. However, teachers can encourage boys and girls to play and work together simply by praising children engaged in cross-gender interaction. An important implication of the research is that when girls and boys work and play together, they are less likely to hold stereotyped attitudes. Despite the stereotypes, when employees work for a female supervisor, they vote their approval. Female managers are seen as giving more attention to subordinates, as more open to new ideas, and as more supportive of worker effort than male managers.