Final answer:
The stereotype referred to in paragraph 6 suggests that girls struggle more than boys in STEM subjects, which is reinforced by teacher behavior favoring boys, even though research shows no significant cognitive differences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on paragraph 6 of the provided text, the author is most likely referring to the stereotype that girls struggle more than boys do in subjects like math and science. In the given study, it was observed that teachers praised male students more, interrupted female students more often, and allowed male students more opportunities to expand their ideas. This behavior perpetuates the gender stereotype that boys are better suited for STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), even though research, including that by biologist Anne Fausto-Sterling, has found no statistically significant cognitive differences between boys and girls. Furthermore, the overall treatment of boys and girls in schools, including different expectations for behavior and academics, reinforces a gendered sense of competition rather than collaboration, which can influence students' interests and achievements in various subjects.