13/03/2018

For 9 out of 10 girls, engineering is 'a boy's thing'.

Foto: Thinstock

Reproduction from Crescer magazine.

In São Paulo, 9 out of 10 girls (between 6 and 8 years old) associate engineering with masculine affinities and skills. This finding is part of a recent study conducted by FLACSO Argentina (Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences) and the Argentinian NGO Chicos.net (which promotes the responsible use of technology among children and young people), sponsored by Disney Latin America. The same study was applied in Buenos Aires and Mexico City to investigate how parents and teachers influence girls' connection with STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The study was carried out between April and October 2017 with 360 boys and girls aged 6 to 10, 480 mothers and fathers and 780 teachers, all from middle, lower middle and lower socioeconomic sectors. In Brazil, the result was presented to the press on Friday (9), with the presence of Gloria Bonder (FLACSO), Marcela Czarny (Chicos.net) and Belén Ubaneja (Disney AL).

Most adults surveyed agree that STEM disciplines will be the professions of the future. Despite this, 1 in 3 parents believe that the low participation of women in STEM is due to the girls' personal preferences (33%) and that they receive little encouragement at home and in primary school (32%) to become interested in these subjects. On the other hand, eight out of ten parents say they would tell their daughter to pursue this path if that were her calling.

More interesting evidence: both boys and girls (60%) enjoy conducting experiments at home. And most of these children believe that STEM is for both sexes. In fact, in Brazil, 40% of girls like mathematics, compared to 23% of boys – a figure that draws the researchers' attention, as it is unique to this country. So, why is engineering still perceived as a masculine activity? The research suggests that something happens after the age of 10, coincidentally the time when girls begin to develop their sexuality, that causes them to distance themselves from STEM. As a consequence, these professions become stereotyped, masculine spaces.

How to encourage your daughter in the field of science.

Research suggests several proposals to reverse this gender-defined choice and help girls develop their potential. These include visits to science museums and planetariums; giving visibility to female role models in STEM; and seeking initiatives that bring children closer to programming. Furthermore, it is also worthwhile to encourage joint activities for girls and boys, and to avoid associating games, clothing, and toys with only one gender. Finally, it is necessary to ensure that girls have access to electronic devices in the home as much as boys, and to never stigmatize STEM subjects as "difficult" or "only for intelligent people."

Belén, Director of Brand Management for Disney Latin America, stated that, after analyzing the research results, all of the brand's advertising will now be required to feature both girls and boys, and never just one gender. A good start, right?