Girls depict female scientists less as they get older

By Andy Extance2018-03-27T09:03:00

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There’s still a need for diverse role models

When asked to draw scientists, American children in the 1960s and 1970s almost never depicted women and girls – but since the 1980s, they have done so around 28% of the time. A new meta-analysis from Northwestern University researchers that combines results of 79 draw-a-scientist studies also indicates that children learn the male scientist stereotype over time. Until 8 years old they’re equally as likely to draw men as women, but male scientist drawings become more common from older children.

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