An Investigation into children's gender stereotypes and the effect they have on children’s career aspirations

Abstract

This research project investigates gender stereotypes in primary school aged children. It considers whether gender stereotypes are present, whether age range has an impact on children’s gender stereotypes and the impact preconceptions may have on children’s career aspirations. This project uses questionnaires and interviews to collect data. The findings of this research suggest that primary school aged children do have gender stereotypes and that gender does play a role in children career aspirations, but children’s gender stereotypes are varied and some children may even actively seek to expose gender stereotypes, especially girls. Boys appear to aspire to more physically demanding careers such as football whereas girls ambition lies in the intellectually demanding careers like that of doctors and teachers.