In the European context, there have been discussions for many years about how the number of female and male teachers in primary education should be more balanced. This story is also linked to the deteriorating school performance of boys, who are perceived as lacking male role models in schools. Thus, the feminization of primary education is often…

The educational policy in 2020 empowered Saudi women, including female teachers, to teach children in early childhood schools (ECS). Parents and female teachers have complex, culturally rooted perceptions regarding inequity in male teacher employment in Saudi Arabia's ECS. Although the underrepresentation of male teachers in ECS is a worldwide…

While a growing emphasis has been placed on broadening participation in computer science (CS) education, an enduring gender gap exists. One reason for this is gender-based CS stereotypes, which serve as gatekeepers and act in exclusionary ways. However, some high schools in the U.S. have still built gender-inclusive CS programs. We conducted a…

Implicit stereotypes about gender and STEM may unconsciously shape students' academic choices and contribute to gender gaps in major choice, but there is limited economic evidence on this channel. To study this relationship, we administer a gender-science Implicit Association Test (IAT) to a sample of primarily first-semester undergraduates, and…

This paper explores the move towards an all-female teaching force, particularly in the developed world, where men are turning their backs on the profession. It attempts to gather the evidence as to what is affecting men's choice to reject teaching as a career. It explores the possible causes of this change, which has been increasing over the last…

The unequal presence of women in scientific and technological fields compared to men may have its origins partly in the compulsory educational stages and performance of teachers involved therein. This study aims to systematically review the existing literature on science and technology teacher training to address the gender gap in STEM studies,…

It is essential that all students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) have the motivational supports to persist in their STEM career trajectories. "STEM role models," or successful individuals in STEM, can be powerful tools to motivate college students towards STEM careers, particularly if students…

Qualified professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM education are in increasingly short supply globally. Role models can help increase women's representation in STEM, both at entry and senior levels. The study objectives were to identify the characteristics of role models in STEM higher education and…

While the field of economics lacks diversity, there is little consensus on the underlying causes of or most effective solutions to this problem. The authors of this article combine data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) with data from their own survey of U.S. economics departments to identify institution and…

Purpose: This research examined the impact of two physical educators' appearance and sex on elementary school students' learning and teacher perceptions. Method: Four videos consisting of female informal appearance, female formal appearance, male informal appearance, and male formal appearance were created. A content examination and a perception…

The characteristics of early-age children, such as curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, align with the essential attributes of STEM education. Consequently, it is important to examine the perspectives of children's picture books regarding STEM professions (gender, field of study, inferred action, etc.). Children's picture books tailored for…

This study investigated the perception of role model attributes of women and men sport professors, how these attributes influence the choice of academic role models, and how such role models affect career objectives. The study draws on social cognitive (career) theory. Data were collected with a quantitative online survey (N = 792) targeted at…

Teachers frequently happen to be the most influential role models and social change agents in the eyes and minds of young people as well as the whole society in many cultures. Since they are closely involved in promoting the ideas for the goodness of communities and the whole world either as individuals or educators, teachers' behaviours across…

To increase women's interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), interventions that target self-efficacy and belongingness are needed. For this purpose, this study designed and tested two interventions. In Study 1, we tested if a video with female role models increases young women's expected belongingness and interest in…

In times of the rise of the "A4 waist" trend on social networks (SNs), concerns have been raised over appearance-related content's adverse effects on body image and well-being in parasocial relationships. We conducted a survey on Chinese college students (N = 333) to examine the effects of comparison targets (same-gender acquaintances,…