‘Not girly, not sexy, not glamorous’: primary school girls’ and parents’ constructions of science aspirations1статья из журнала
Аннотация: Abstract Internationally, there is widespread concern about the need to increase participation in the sciences (particularly the physical sciences), especially among girls/women. This paper draws on data from a five-year, longitudinal study of 10–14-year-old children’s science aspirations and career choice to explore the reasons why, even from a young age, many girls may see science aspirations as ‘not for me’. We discuss data from phase one – a survey of over 9000 primary school children (aged 10/11) and interviews with 92 children and 78 parents, focusing in particular on those girls who did not hold science aspirations. Using a feminist poststructuralist analytic lens, we argue that science aspirations are largely ‘unthinkable’ for these girls because they do not fit with either their constructions of desirable/intelligible femininity nor with their sense of themselves as learners/students. We argue that an underpinning construction of science careers as ‘clever’/‘brainy’, ‘not nurturing’ and ‘geeky’ sits in opposition to the girls’ self-identifications as ‘normal’, ‘girly’, ‘caring’ and ‘active’. Moreover, we suggest that this lack of fit is exacerbated by social inequalities, which render science aspirations potentially less thinkable for working-class girls in particular. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential implications for increasing women’s greater participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Keywords: genderscienceaspirationschildrenparents Notes 1. This paper arises from the UK Economic and Social Research Council-funded seminar series ‘Young Women in Movement: Sexualities, Vulnerabilities, Needs and Norms’ (ESRC RES-451-26-0715), based at Goldsmiths, University of London, 2009–2011. 2. Cf. the science-aspirant girls who were predominantly middle class (only one working-class girl) – see Archer et al. (forthcoming). 3. Cheryl Cole is a very popular English pop star and celebrity. She rose to fame through a reality pop competition and joined the manufactured girl band Girls Aloud. She has since enjoyed success as a solo artist, TV personality, model and as the face of international cosmetics company L’Oreal. She is frequently featured in the tabloid press and fashion/ lifestyle magazines. 4. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for suggesting this point. 5. Kiss up’ means to falsely flatter or in this case, to express a false opinion in order to curry favour with the interviewer. 6. The two years of schooling in England for pupils between the ages of 14 and 16, which incorporates GCSEs, the national examinations taken by pupils at the end of this period.
Год издания: 2013
Авторы: Louise Archer, Jennifer DeWitt, Jonathan Osborne, Justin Dillon, Beatrice Willis, Billy Wong
Издательство: Taylor & Francis
Источник: Pedagogy Culture and Society
Ключевые слова: Career Development and Diversity, Science Education and Perceptions, Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
Открытый доступ: closed
Том: 21
Выпуск: 1
Страницы: 171–194