There is a long-standing argument on whether young men and young women should be sent to separate, single-sex schools or sent to co-ed schools. It is said that students, especially females, who attend single-sex schools (generally private), are better-adjusted, more confident, and all-around better students. While this argument may hold some validity, it is obvious that students of same-sex schools are maladjusted to the social aspects that are just as important as their regular schoolwork. If both sexes are not taught together, they will not learn to co-exist and cooperate. In a world where women and men not only live together, but also are forced to work together in the workplace an increasing amount as women continue to take a more prominent role outside the home, the ability to successfully work together becomes increasingly important. .
For a long time, advocates of same-sex schooling have made the argument that young women fare far better when they are placed in an environment where the opposite sex is not present. This is said for many reasons. First, many advocates talk of an idea called the "gender gap." Essentially, this says that girls in general tend to be less confident in themselves and therefore cannot speak out and do not succeed as well as young men when in a co-ed environment. Also, it has been said that girls in co-ed schools are not afforded the same leadership opportunities as girls in same-sex schools. .
Another advantage that advocates girls attending single-sex schools is their increased opportunity to jump the classical bounds of gender and study a broader range of subjects. Girls in same-sex schools are said to be more likely to study courses in the areas of math and science where males typically dominate. Co-ed schools are also said to cause a larger distraction to the students because of their attraction to the opposite sex. The mere presence of girls and boys together seems to cause both parties to pay less attention.