Gender Stereotypes and STEM Motivation: Experimental, Longitudinal, Meta-analytic, and Intervention Research Across the Lifespan

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Women are underrepresented in many STEM fields (NSF, 2017), and girls frequently report lower motivational beliefs in math and science when compared to boys (Eccles & Wang, 2016). Researchers and policy makers frequently pinpoint gender stereotypes as one explanation for the gender gap in STEM (e.g., Régner et al., 2014). Using diverse samples from across the lifespan, this symposium explores the prevalence and impact of STEM gender stereotypes on multiple levels: through experimental manipulation, meta-analysis, longitudinally, and in an intervention to address them. The first talk presents experimental work about computer science gender stereotypes among grade-school students, finding that interest-based gender stereotypes demotivate girls from a novel task. The second talk examines longitudinal changes in math and science competence gender stereotypes over high school, and how they relate to parent stereotypes as well as outcomes such as STEM identity. Using international IQ data, the third talk calls into question the legitimacy of the stereotype that males are more likely to be represented in STEM because they are more likely to be brilliant (i.e., overrepresented at the highest IQ levels). Finally, the fourth talk explores successes and potential downfalls of an intervention to address gender bias in STEM, offering new perspectives on how (and how not to) conduct interventions aimed to support girls and women in STEM. By investigating STEM gender stereotypes among diverse samples, our symposium offers a comprehensive view of what may help or hinder to retain and support gender diversity in STEM and concludes by offering intervention recommendations.

Sub Unit

• Sex, Gender

Chair

• Christine R Starr, University of California - Irvine

Individual Presentations

• Gender Stereotypes about Interest Cause Gender Disparities in Children’s Motivation in STEM - Presenting Author: Mackenzie Tennison, University of Washington; Non-Presenting Author: Sapna Cheryan, University of Washington; Non-Presenting Author: Andrew N Meltzoff, University of Washington; Non-Presenting Author: Allison Master, University of Houston

• STEM Gender Stereotypes Across High School: Links with Parents’ and Teachers’ Stereotypes to Adolescents’ Identity and Outcomes - Presenting Author: Christine R Starr, University of California - Irvine; Non-Presenting Author: Sandra Simpkins, University of California - Irvine

• Reconsidering gender differences in intelligence: A meta-analysis of gender differences in IQ variability - Presenting Author: Jillian Lauer, University of Cambridge; Non-Presenting Author: Andrei Cimpian, New York University

• Good intentions are not enough: Assessing positive and negative effects of a gender bias-literacy intervention - Presenting Author: Jessica L. Cundiff, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Non-Presenting Author: Susan L. Murray, Missouri University of Science and Technology