Thinking about Parents: Gender and Field of Study

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Abstract

Globally, women remain underrepresented in STEM. Our lab-in-the-field study delves into parental influence on adolescents' perceptions of scientific versus humanistic aptitude. We find that thinking about parental recommendation affects students' beliefs on their comparative advantage in a gender-stereotypical way. Girls are 23 percent less likely to choose math when they think about their mothers' recommendation before selecting their field. The paper underscores the critical role that parents play in shaping gender-specific beliefs about academic strengths, highlighting potential avenues for fostering diversity in STEM.