Investigating Gender Stereotypes and Educational Inequalities: From the Perspectives of Chinese High School Students and Teachers

Abstract

Although women are increasingly gaining educational achievement and socioeconomic status, gender stereotypes in educational settings and society are still deeply entrenched. Gender disparities in occupational segregation and income remain pronounced, and women’s participation in STEM fields (sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics) remains low. Moreover, gender stereotypes also harm men. Extensive research has explored the issue of gender differences in educational outcomes and career development from biological and sociological perspectives, highlighting the pervasive influence of cultural norms and gender stereotypes on these disparities. This thesis uses social role theory to explore differentiated expectations for young Chinese adolescents in China and how they might affect young people’s cognitive formation of gender identity and restrict their pursuit of educational and career aspirations. Investigating the formation and influence of these gender constructs provides a clearer understanding of how gender stereotypes manifest in educational and career-planning contexts. This study conducted semi-structured individual interviews with three teachers and ten students at a high school in China to explore gender stereotypes and their potential detriments in the contemporary Chinese educational environment. The research findings revealed that most student participants espoused relatively liberal views on gender roles. By contrast, their teachers often maintained more conventional gender perspectives. Gender stereotypes continue to be deeply intertwined with traditional social roles, influencing educational opportunities, behavioural norms, emotional development, and the career choices of both male and female students. The study concludes that parents, teachers, and peers are instrumental in shaping how individuals perceive and internalise gender norms. It proposes that implementing interventions to dismantle gender stereotypes is imperative to foster greater gender equality in both educational and societal spheres.