A new study from scholars at the University of Louisville in Kentucky has discovered a positive shift in young girls’ perception of women in STEM fields.
The study authors showed preschool and elementary school-aged children pictures of White and Black men and women and asked them which adult they thought knew more about science and which adult they would like to learn from. Girls and boys were significantly more likely to show preference for the scientist of their same gender. There was no association found between the adults’ race and the children’s opinions.
According to the research team, earlier studies have found children, regardless of their gender, were more likely to consider men as better scientists than women. The authors believe their new findings provide evidence of a positive cultural shift in society’s perception of women’s STEM capabilities, opening the door for more girls to pursue scientific studies and careers.