Gender and the Image of Science

Abstract Sj⊘berg, S. 1988. Gender and the Image of Science. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 32, 49‐60. Few girls take science options in schools, and few women choose science‐related careers. This is a world‐wide phenomenon, and in many countries a matter of great concern. The article deals with possible causes and strategies for changing the situation. Quantitative data from a large survey are used to demonstrate a wide range of differences, i.e. in test scores, in out‐of‐school experiences and in future job priorities. An important factor in girls' choice of future specialization is the perceived impression of the nature of science and the image of what kind of people scientists are. It is argued that the perceived traits of the scientist are in conflict with the values and priorities held by girls. There is a need to supplement the statistical data in this survey with data of a more qualitative nature to investigate further the implications of these findings. Such work is in progress.