Largest ever study into gender stereotypes in science

A study involving 350,000 people, from 66 nations, has found that the stereotypical association of men (rather than women) with science is prevalent across the world.

The study was conducted by Northwestern University through a website called Project Implicit, which asked participants to rate how much they associated science with males or females. Another measure assessed how quickly they associated science words such as ‘math’ and ‘physics’ with male words such as ‘boy’ and ‘man’. Neither measure asked whether participants thought men or women were more competent in science.

Stereotypes were found to be strong in nations such as Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, which are ironically known for having strived for gender equity. “In fact,” said lead author David I Miller, “Scandinavian nations generally had stronger stereotypes than the US.”

Miller explained that the results made sense when the team looked closer at who pursued science in these nations. He noted, “Dutch men outnumbered Dutch women by nearly four to one among both science majors and employed researchers. The strong stereotypes in the Netherlands, therefore, reflect the reality of male dominance in science there.”

Gender-science stereotypes were typically weaker in nations with more female science majors and researchers - although they did persist in nations such as Argentina and Bulgaria, where women make up roughly half of science majors in universities and employed researchers.

http://www.labonline.com.au/content/lab-business/news/largest-ever-study-into-gender-stereotypes-in-science-759159113?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=L_1505_4&utm_content=L_1505_4+CID_5c98f2118b7460f1853974e39167a331&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Largest+ever+study+into+gender+stereotypes+in+science

Largest ever study into gender stereotypes in science

Largest ever study into gender stereotypes in science

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