This article explores the impact of gender stereotypes on children's interest in STEM fields, highlighting that while girls perform well in math and science, damaging beliefs about gender roles persist. Research indicates that children now view computer science and engineering as 'for boys', negatively impacting girls' interest and inadvertently boosting boys' motivation in these areas. Researchers emphasize the crucial need to differentiate between stereotypes in various STEM fields and address the changing perceptions, ensuring that all children can pursue their interests without societal constraints.
As researchers, we believe it's time that we started paying attention to differences between STEM fields. There are still harmful stereotypes about STEM fields out thereâbut math and science stereotypes may no longer be the problem. Society has changed.
The surprisingly good news is that girls are actually doing really well in math and science. They score as well on achievement tests as boys, and they often get higher grades.
Kids often see computer science and engineering as "for boys"âbut not math or science. These stereotypes can reduce girls' interest and boost boys' motivation in tech fields.
In our peer-reviewed research, published in May 2025 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we found that all STEM stereotypes are not the same. In fact, there is now a big divergence.
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