Children as young as age 6 develop ideas that girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering 鈥� stereotypes that can extend into the late teens and contribute to a gender gap in STEM college courses and related careers.
from the University of Houston and the 91爆料, published Nov. 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, explores the gender-based beliefs young children and teens hold about interest in STEM fields. The majority of children believe girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering, the study shows.
鈥淕ender-interest stereotypes that STEM is for boys begins in grade school, and by the time they reach high school, many girls have made their decision not to pursue degrees in computer science and engineering because they feel they don鈥檛 belong,鈥� said , an assistant professor of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences at the University of Houston and the study鈥檚 lead author.
The PNAS study involved four different studies 鈥� a mix of surveys and designed experiments to capture the beliefs of a racially diverse sample of children and teens in grades 1 through 12. Researchers wanted to focus on interest, building on , to learn how gender-based stereotypes about who likes 鈥� not just who is 鈥済ood鈥� at 鈥� computer science and engineering can affect a child鈥檚 sense of belonging and willingness to participate. Such information can influence a young person鈥檚 motivation over the long term, researchers point out, and may deter them from trying an activity or taking a class.
As recently as 2019, national statistics reveal that women are underrepresented in some popular and lucrative STEM careers: statistics show that only about 25% of computer scientists and 15% of engineers were women.
In the first two studies, researchers surveyed more than 2,200 children and teens to gauge beliefs about computer science and engineering. The surveys used terms and phrases with which the students were familiar at school, such as 鈥渃omputer coding鈥� for computer science or, for engineering, 鈥渄esigning and creating large structures such as roads and bridges.鈥�
Researchers found that just over half (51%) of children believed girls are less interested than boys in computer science, and nearly two-thirds (63%) said girls are less interested in engineering. In comparison, 14% of children said girls are more interested than boys in computer science, and 9% said girls are more interested in engineering.
Subsequent lab studies provided a smaller sample of children two different activities from which to choose. The results demonstrated that girls were significantly less interested in a computer science activity when they were told boys were more interested in it than girls (35% of girls chose the activity), compared to one they were told boys and girls were equally interested in (65% of girls chose that activity).
While the surveys showed the pervasiveness of gender-based stereotypes around interest in computer science and engineering, the designed experiments demonstrated how stereotypes can affect a sense of belonging, which can influence motivation, co-author said.
鈥淭he large surveys told us that the kids had absorbed the cultural stereotype that girls are less interested in computer science and engineering. In the experiments we zeroed in on causal mechanisms and consequences of stereotypes,鈥� said Meltzoff, a professor of psychology at the 91爆料 and co-director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences. 鈥淲e discovered that labeling an activity in a stereotyped way influenced children鈥檚 interest in it and their willingness to take it home鈥攖he mere presence of the stereotype influenced kids in dramatic ways. This brought home to us the pernicious effect of stereotypes on children and teens鈥�
And that鈥檚 important, added co-author , a 91爆料 professor of psychology, because if fewer girls feel they belong, then fewer might pursue computer science or engineering through school and beyond. That can lead to gender disparities in STEM fields and even worsen the wage gap.
鈥滳urrent gender disparities in computer science and engineering careers are troubling because these careers are lucrative, high status, and influence so many aspects of our daily lives.
The dearth of gender and racial diversity in these fields聽may be one of the reasons聽why many products and services have had negative consequences for聽women and people of color,鈥� Cheryan said.
Teachers and parents can help counteract stereotypes by offering high-quality computer science and engineering activities early in elementary school 鈥� and encouraging girls鈥� participation, the authors note.
The study was funded by the National Science Foundation, the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education, and the Bezos Family Foundation.
For more information, contact Meltzoff at meltzoff@uw.edu, Cheryan at scheryan@uw.edu, or Master at amaster@central.uh.edu.
This release includes material from S. Sara Tubbs at the University of Houston.