Brief stories of successful female role models in science help counter gender stereotypes regarding intellectual ability among young girls: A pilot study

Buckley, C., Farrell, L. and Tyndall, I. (2021) Brief stories of successful female role models in science help counter gender stereotypes regarding intellectual ability among young girls: A pilot study. Early Education and Development, 33 (4). pp. 1-12. ISSN 1040-9289

[thumbnail of This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Informa UK Ltd, in Early Education and Development on 23 May 2021, available online https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2021.1928444] Text (This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Informa UK Ltd, in Early Education and Development on 23 May 2021, available online https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2021.1928444)
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Abstract

Negative stereotypes about female intellectual abilities occur in children as young as 6-years-old and can shape a child's educational path and career choice, particularly in relation to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The current study (N = 40) explored pre-existing gender stereotypes in a purposeful sample of 6 to 8-year-old white British girls at a dance and performing arts center and tested the impact of a brief story-based intervention that exposed young girls to intellectually brilliant female role models in STEM. Findings indicated that exposure to stories about women in science can help counter negative stereotypes concerning female intellectual ability. Another stereotype, “females are nicer than males”, was prevalent in most participants and was not affected by the current intervention. A key implication of this study is that young girls who learn about members of their own gender group who accomplished success in STEM fields may be more inclined to think of STEM careers as a possibility for females in future.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: Gender stereotypes, STEM, science, education, girls, Education, Developmental and Educational Psychology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
L Education > L Education (General)
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Education, Social and Life Sciences > Psychology
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Ian Tyndall
Date Deposited: 13 May 2021 09:48
Last Modified: 23 Nov 2022 01:10
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/5727

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