What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether gender stereotypes regarding interest develop early and causally diminish young girls' interest in computer science and engineering activities.

November 22, 2021Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOpen Access

Gender stereotypes about interests start early and cause gender disparities in computer science and engineering

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To determine whether gender stereotypes regarding interest develop early and causally diminish young girls' interest in computer science and engineering activities.
Conducted four investigations, comprising two ecologically valid real-world studies (Studies 1 and 2) and two controlled preregistered laboratory experiments (Studies 3 and 4, N=172).
Tested 8- to 9-year-old girls by comparing interest levels in activities labeled with a gender stereotype versus activities presented with neutral, equal-interest framing.
Girls aged 8 to 9 years showed significantly lower interest in activities described as having lower female interest compared to activities with neutral framing.
Controlled and real-world experiments together demonstrate that stereotypes about interest emerge in early childhood and actively contribute to gender disparities in STEM.

Implication

Experimental study demonstrates reduced interest from stereotypes among young girls, suggesting early roots of STEM gender disparities.

Abstract

= 172; both preregistered) experimentally demonstrate that 8- to 9-y-old girls are significantly less interested in an activity marked with a gender stereotype ("girls are less interested in this activity than boys") compared to an activity with no such stereotype ("girls and boys are equally interested in this activity"). Taken together, both ecologically valid real-world studies (Studies 1 and 2) and controlled preregistered laboratory experiments (Studies 3 and 4) reveal that stereotypes that girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering emerge early and may contribute to gender disparities.

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Cite This Study

Master et al. (2021) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a00065a4716aad0cc858f29 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2100030118

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Implication

Experimental study demonstrates reduced interest from stereotypes among young girls, suggesting early roots of STEM gender disparities.

Gender stereotypes about interests start early and cause gender disparities in computer science and engineering

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Gender stereotypes about interests start early and cause gender disparities in computer science and engineering

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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