Interest, skills and belief in own abilities steer youngsters towards STEM jobs
Monday, December 5, 2016 - 12:01
in Psychology & Sociology
The fact that many young women do not pursue a career in the 'STEM' fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics may have its roots in gender stereotypes. These not only magnify uncertainty and doubts in young women about their success, but also influence whether they are actually interested in mathematics or not, says Helen Watt of Monash University in Australia, who led a study in Springer's journal Sex Roles. It sought to understand the role that interest and ability in mathematics play in motivating career choices among young people in Australia and the US.