Female Underrepresentation in STEM Subjects: An Exploratory Study of Female High School Students in China

Lizhi He; George Zhou; Geri Salinitri; Lianrong Xu

doi:10.29333/ejmste/109657

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Lizhi He ¹, George Zhou ¹ ^* , Geri Salinitri ¹, Lianrong Xu ²

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¹ University of Windsor, CANADA² Liaocheng University, CHINA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

In China, there exists many factors such as girls’ socialized gender norms and the values and pedagogy incorporated in the science curriculum that may discourage female students from choosing science courses. In order to ensure that female students have the same opportunities to reach their potential in STEM areas, it is important to understand these factors that influence their choices. This study investigates the potential reasons why female high school students in China are less likely to choose STEM subjects. By conducting qualitative interviews with six female students, from two Chinese high schools, the study discovers several factors behind their decision-making in course selection, including the influence of current science curriculum, teachers, labor market, parents, and peers. The findings of this study enrich existing research on gender equity in Chinese high school education and provide insights about relevant policies to address gender disparities in science programs.

Keywords

Chinese high school education
gender equity
STEM
female underrepresentation

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 16, Issue 1, January 2020, Article No: em1802

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109657

Publication date: 16 Sep 2019

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Article Downloads: 4975

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How to cite this article

APA

He, L., Zhou, G., Salinitri, G., & Xu, L. (2020). Female Underrepresentation in STEM Subjects: An Exploratory Study of Female High School Students in China. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(1), em1802. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109657

Vancouver

He L, Zhou G, Salinitri G, Xu L. Female Underrepresentation in STEM Subjects: An Exploratory Study of Female High School Students in China. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2020;16(1):em1802. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109657

AMA

He L, Zhou G, Salinitri G, Xu L. Female Underrepresentation in STEM Subjects: An Exploratory Study of Female High School Students in China. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2020;16(1), em1802. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109657

Chicago

He, Lizhi, George Zhou, Geri Salinitri, and Lianrong Xu. "Female Underrepresentation in STEM Subjects: An Exploratory Study of Female High School Students in China". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2020 16 no. 1 (2020): em1802. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109657

Harvard

He, L., Zhou, G., Salinitri, G., and Xu, L. (2020). Female Underrepresentation in STEM Subjects: An Exploratory Study of Female High School Students in China. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(1), em1802. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109657

MLA

He, Lizhi et al. "Female Underrepresentation in STEM Subjects: An Exploratory Study of Female High School Students in China". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 16, no. 1, 2020, em1802. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109657