This thesis intends to explore whether gender based differences occur in coeducational discussions among older adolescents in high school. The study is designed to determine what differences exist between the way girls and boys engage in a discussion and if differences exist, to assess the implications of these observed differences. Discussions will be observed at The Bishop's School in La Jolla, California. The study addresses the benefits of discussion and the qualities of good discussion as well as the impact of gender on discussions. The results indicate that most girls do not have an equal voice in discussion, and though some do have equal power to the boys, these few girls tend to make up for the relative lack of power of the vast majority of their female peers.
