Gender and Grade Level Differences in Taiwan Students’ Stereotypes of Science and Scientists

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore student‐held images of science and scientists according to gender and grade level and the reasons behind them. A drawing activity and interviews‐about‐instance on the theme of science and scientists were administered to a total of 297 students (153 male and 144 female students) from three elementary and three middle schools in Taiwan. The results show male students being more strongly influenced by public stereotypes of science and scientists at a younger age compared with female students. However, a significantly larger number of males made a change in accepting non‐stereotypical science/scientists images as they increased in age, particularly grade 8 boys. Grade 8 girls were found to be most open to the idea of women working as scientists, yet those same female students were, for the most part, incapable of imagining themselves pursuing a science‐related career because of being afraid of being labelled as loo capable when compared with male peers. Throughout this study, it has been demonstrated that parents, peers, and teachers do have impact on the students’ science‐related career choice through the influence of students’ views of science and scientists.