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14 - Young people, gender, and science

Does an early interest lead to a job in SET? A longitudinal view from the BHPS youth data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2014

By
Anna Bagnoli ,
Dieter Demey  and
Jacqueline Scott
Edited by
Ingrid Schoon  and
Jacquelynne S. Eccles
Anna Bagnoli
Affiliation:
Wolfson College, Cambridge
Dieter Demey
Affiliation:
University of Southampton
Jacqueline Scott
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Ingrid Schoon
Affiliation:
Institute of Education, University of London
Jacquelynne S. Eccles
Affiliation:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Summary

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of teenage career aspirations in predicting later outcomes. In particular we focus on young adolescent males and females who show an interest in SET (science, engineering, and technology) careers. We present the results of secondary analysis that we carried out on the British Youth Survey, which is part of the British Household Panel Survey. Looking at data from a recent cohort, we investigate trends in aspirations over time. Our analysis focuses on four research questions: first, identifying young people’s future aspirations, more specifically their aspirations to get into SET, and the ways in which these relate to family background and gender; second, looking at whether an early interest in science leads to having a SET job as an adult; third, investigating the extent to which young people who aspire to a career in SET may be seeking to reproduce family patterns by following in the footsteps of their parents; and fourth, looking at how those young people who express an interest in SET speak of their career ambitions in relation to family aspirations. Before presenting the results of the analysis we clarify the different working definitions for SET occupations that we adopt in this study. We first present the quantitative cross-sectional and longitudinal results that link youth and adult data in the sample. Second, we present results of the qualitative analysis of future aspirations. Finally, we draw some policy implications concerning possible ways of improving the image of science to reduce the gender gap and encourage more young people to aspire to SET careers.

Type
Chapter
Information
Gender Differences in Aspirations and Attainment
A Life Course Perspective
 , pp. 321 - 345
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2014

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