TY - JOUR

T1 - Hairdressing in space

T2 - Depiction of gender in science books for children

AU - Caldwell, Elizabeth Frances

AU - Wilbraham, Susan

PY - 2018/9

Y1 - 2018/9

N2 - Stereotypes in the media both reflect and perpetuate the notion that science is a masculine pursuit. The aim of the current study is to explore whether such stereotypes extend to imagery within children’s science books. In order to determine the extent of stereotypes in gender representation both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted. Results demonstrated that overall females were under-represented in images across the books surveyed. Analyses of images of adults demonstrated under-representation of women in both physics and mathematics books, but images of children showed no significant difference between genders. Analyses of the target age of the children’s books revealed that books targeted at older children contained fewer images of adult females. Qualitative visual analyses revealed that books about space exploration trivialized women’s expertise, diminished their perceived technical competence, failed to acknowledge their contribution or presence, and represented them in a manner which suggested that they were passive, lower status, and superficial. Books about science that are currently available to children in libraries are not balanced in terms of their representation of gender. Imagery in children’s books of women actively participating in scientific occupations would help to demonstrate that careers in these areas are meaningful, fulfilling and achievable for women.

AB - Stereotypes in the media both reflect and perpetuate the notion that science is a masculine pursuit. The aim of the current study is to explore whether such stereotypes extend to imagery within children’s science books. In order to determine the extent of stereotypes in gender representation both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted. Results demonstrated that overall females were under-represented in images across the books surveyed. Analyses of images of adults demonstrated under-representation of women in both physics and mathematics books, but images of children showed no significant difference between genders. Analyses of the target age of the children’s books revealed that books targeted at older children contained fewer images of adult females. Qualitative visual analyses revealed that books about space exploration trivialized women’s expertise, diminished their perceived technical competence, failed to acknowledge their contribution or presence, and represented them in a manner which suggested that they were passive, lower status, and superficial. Books about science that are currently available to children in libraries are not balanced in terms of their representation of gender. Imagery in children’s books of women actively participating in scientific occupations would help to demonstrate that careers in these areas are meaningful, fulfilling and achievable for women.

KW - gender-STEMM stereotypes

KW - women in STEMM

KW - unconscious bias

KW - children’s science books

KW - trade books

KW - visual analysis

KW - visual discourse

KW - career aspirations

U2 - 10.1386/jspc.1.2.101_1

DO - 10.1386/jspc.1.2.101_1

M3 - Journal article

VL - 1

SP - 101

EP - 118

JO - Journal of Science and Popular Culture

JF - Journal of Science and Popular Culture

SN - 2059-9072

IS - 2

ER -