Small actions to start breaking gender stereotypes
Small actions to start breaking gender stereotypes
Avoid images showing men and women in stereotyped functions that do not reflect the diversity of roles.
The image on the right is taken from the publication “Sexes & manuels -Promouvoir l’égalité dans les manuels scolaires” produced by the Direction de l'Egalité des Chances of the Ministère de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (2012, Belgium), available here. The image shows extract from a Mathematics textbook in which the beginnings of each chapter are illustrated by real-life situations: women in private life, men in professional life.
Display posters showing women (past and present) active in STEM (see examples on the right, downloadable in 7 languages here).
Teach the History of Science and highlight the contributions of women scientists, not just men. Enrol to the course Stories and examples of successful women in STEM to learn more.
Eliminating the reproduction of gender stereotypes in documents and communication initiatives (written, visual,...).
Avoid the reproduction of the cultural images of STEM as not a girls thing. See the following image, which is representative of a very bad example. It was collected in June 2024, in a public secondary school, in Coimbra (Portugal). The poster is a call from the University of Porto for a physics summer school, and the image doesn’t show a single girl.
Eradicating any sexist stereotypes in the information provided about professions and training paths.
The image on the right is an advertisement released in 2017 for student fairs. It promotes business, engineering, sustainable development and video game schools by showing men, and health, social and paramedical schools by showing a woman.
Integrating the theme of gender equality into orientation support materials, as well as all spaces dedicated to orientation, information, and guidance.
Applying the use of gender-neutral language and the feminization of job titles, functions, grades, and titles (see the list of Inclusive language guides, chapter 6.2 of the Equality Pedagogy in STEM: An EU Framework, Monteiro et al. 2024). Enrol to the course Inclusive & Gender-Neutral Language and How to Apply it in Teaching to learn more.
... and more tips to discover in A guide for including a gender perspective in STEM schools and education.
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