How Effective are Female Role Models in Steering Girls Towards Stem? Evidence from French High Schools

Thomas Breda (), Julien Grenet (), Marion Monnet () and Clementine van Effenterre
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Thomas Breda: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement
Julien Grenet: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement
Marion Monnet: IREDU - Institut de Recherche sur l'Education : Sociologie et Economie de l'Education [Dijon] - UB - Université de Bourgogne - UBFC - Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE]

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Abstract: We show in a large-scale field experiment that a brief exposure to female role models working in scientific fields affects high school students' perceptions and choice of undergraduate major. The classroom interventions reduced the prevalence of stereotypical views on jobs in science and gender differences in abilities. They also made high-achieving girls in Grade 12 more likely to enrol in selective and male-dominated STEM programs in college. Comparing treatment effects across the 56 role model participants, we find that the most effective interventions are those that improved students' perceptions of STEM careers without overemphasizing women's under-representation in science.

Keywords: Role models; Gender gap; STEM; Stereotypes; Choice of study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ure
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://ube.hal.science/hal-04012314v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Published in The Economic Journal, 2023, 133 (653), pp.1773-1809. ⟨10.1093/ej/uead019⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04012314

DOI: 10.1093/ej/uead019

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