Breaking Gender Stereotypes: How Interacting with STEM Professionals Changed Female Students' Perceptions

Scientia Socialis Ltd. 29 K. Donelaicio Street, LT-78115 Siauliai, Republic of Lithuania. e-mail: scientia@scientiasocialis.lt; e-mail: mail.jbse@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.scientiasocialis.lt/jbse/

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Sex Stereotypes; STEM Careers; STEM Education; Gender Differences; Females; Intervention; Camps; Scientists; Student Attitudes; Personality Measures; Freehand Drawing; Cognitive Tests; Projective Measures; Interpersonal Relationship; Social Cognition; Secondary School Students; Foreign Countries

1648-3898
2538-7138

Various studies have reported that students have limited, stereotypical perceptions of STEM fields. However, few studies have attempted to evaluate interventions undertaken with the aim of changing female student's perceptions of STEM professions. This research aimed to examine the changes in mental images among female students as a result of interacting with STEM professionals in a STEM camp. The Draw-a-Scientist Test was revised, and female students were asked to draw and describe STEM professionals at work before and after attending STEM camp. The participating students attended workshops and career talks given by STEM professionals. The findings showed that the perceptions of the participating female students regarding gender images of STEM professionals changed. After the STEM camp, it was also observed that knowledge about STEM professionals and the content of their work had increased. The studied intervention program for female students positively contributed to changes in the students' mental images of STEM professionals. Therefore, it is recommended that female students interact with professionals working in STEM fields to change their perceptions of those fields.

As Provided

2024

EJ1409629