The most common social argument for same-sex education is that it helps students to increase academic achievement, which ultimately results in societal benefits. Studies of single-sex academic achievement have shown mixed results. In some countries in which single-sex education is common (such as Great Britain or Ireland), little academic difference is shown between co-ed and same-sex schools, whereas in the United States same-sex schools have shown considerably higher levels of achievement than co-ed schools.
Proponents of single-sex education claim that one social benefit of single-sex schooling is the breaking of socially-constructed gender stereotypes. While math and science are traditionally considered a more male realm of education and drama and the arts more female, single-sex schools let students explore their interests without the fear of being mocked or bullied for their choices. In co-ed schools, a boy who wants to write poetry or play a musical instrument might feel pressure to conform to more traditional interests, while a girl who wants to study physics might feel uncomfortable in a largely male atmosphere. Single-sex schools let children and young adults explore their interests without this gender focus. Alternatively, some studies point to the lack of interaction between the genders as the problem, claiming that if boys and girls do not interact on a daily basis as children, they might rely on stereotypes to understand each other. Studies also show that any educational system emphasizing division between genders can increase belief in gendered stereotypes.
Some studies find that students who are educated in same-sex schools feel more of a sense of integration and belonging in the classroom, which leads to a willingness to speak, try new things and the ability to feel comfortable in the school environment. Interestingly, a study by Brutsaert and Van Houtte found this was particularly true for female students, and that male students had the same sense of belonging in both co-ed and single-sex schools.
There have been few studies focused on measuring post-school effects of same-sex education. While studies of same-sex education in Britain and the United States revealed there was little difference between adult achievement in same-sex or co-ed educated adults, studies have found that those with same-sex education are more likely to have jobs outside of their gender norms (i.e. women in science or men in the arts).