1. Before the Leaky Pipeline: Gender in Elementary Science Textbook Illustrations April Biasiolli Anthropology Graduate Student Colorado State University This work has been supported by the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center for Multi-Scale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes, managed by Colorado State University under cooperative agreement No. ATM-0425247. OSP No. 533045.

2. Gender Disparity in Science  As early as age 11, girls are less interested in science  In high school & college, women take fewer science courses  Women earn 50% of bachelor’s degrees, 44% of master’s, and 38% of doctorates in the sciences (inc. social sciences)

3. The Leaky Pipeline

4. Social Influences  Environmental factors play a large role  Japanese girls outscore American boys on many math and science measures  Navajos equally likely to draw male and female scientists

5. Science as “Masculine”  Draw-a-Scientist Test:  Most Americans draw male scientists  Consistent across ages  Varies cross-culturally Fig: 5 th grader’s drawing of a scientist

6. Ideas about gender affect science interest, participation, & achievement  Self-efficacy  Stereotype threat

7. Rationale  Disparity in science begins early  Science materials impact students’ perceptions of science  Visual imagery has strong impact

8. Methods  18+ counties in Colorado  Every state in the USA  China, Singapore, Egypt, and the Middle East  16% of districts in USA  50 of 100 largest districts in USA FOSS Kit

9. Sample  16 booklets  206 pictures included people  600 people with gender coded  501 people with race / ethnicity coded

10. Results  Consistent across most activities and settings  Males overrepresented in laboratories and natural settings Fig. #1. Overall Gender Ratio Female (34%) Male (66%)

11. Results Fig #2. Gender Ratio in Biography Illustrations Female (12%) Male (88%)

12. Results Figure #3. Gender Ratio by Book Topic

13. Results Fig. 4: Percentage of People of Race / Ethnicity

14. Significance  Some improvement from past  Children more interested in stories & TV with same-sex main characters  Children identify more with characters similar to themselves

15. Significance  Biased science materials may make women & people of color less likely to choose science professions  Sciences socially & economically significant

16. Acknowledgements  National Science Foundation This work has been supported by the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center for Multi-Scale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes, managed by Colorado State University under cooperative agreement No. ATM-0425247. OSP No. 533045.  Silvia S. Canetto, PhD  S. Aki Hosoi, MS  Erin Winterrowd, MS  Sadie Conrad, BS

17. Questions?