The Gender Gap in STEM May Have Its Roots in Early Childhood

According to a new study from Michigan State University, a contributing factor in the vast gender gap in STEM fields may arise in early childhood. The authors argue that women may be more likely to develop an early interest in non-STEM fields.

The researchers use a longitudinal study that tracked the same 953 children for 12 years. They found that among children as young as 3-7 years old, girls scored significantly higher than boys in standardized reading tests. However, there was no such gap in math.

“People tend to pursue what they’re already good at. We find that among young children, girls outperform boys in reading but not in math. If this early advantage steers girls into pursuing more reading-related subjects in elementary and middle school, more of them may choose to pursue the humanities or related fields in college,” said lead author Amanda Chuan, assistant professor in the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations within the College of Social Science at Michigan State University.

The full study, “Parental Investments in Early Childhood and the Gender Gap in Math and Literacy,” was published on the website of the American Economica Association Papers & Proceedings. It may be accessed here.