The Effect of Gender Stereotypes Found on Zhihu on STEM Career Perceptions for Chinese High School Girls

Abstract

In China, societal norms and the education system are founded upon Confucianism, which highlights the yin-yang work balance. Within this work balance, males are often seen as having more chauvinistic qualities, such as individuality, independence, and competitiveness, traits often tied to STEM fields. On the other hand, females are seen as having soft and conforming characteristics that are related to raising children and being submissive in a familial role. Thus, societal expectations placed upon students in China often highlight female students as inferior to male students in the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This discourages high school female students from pursuing STEM pathways in their College Entrance Exam, which defines one’s future career. A lack of social support for women’s STEM career outlook has caused many female students to hesitate in choosing STEM careers over social science careers. This study uses critical discourse analysis to analyze responses on the impact of the social media platform Zhihu, the Chinese version of Quora, on reinforcing gender stereotypes and affecting career perceptions of Chinese female high school students regarding STEM vs. social science pathways. This work is grounded in social cognitive career theory, social role theory, and gender congruity theory to address the portrayal of females in STEM in Zhihu users’ postings. The responses are categorized as either reinforcing or challenging these yin-yang gender stereotypes. Finally, this study ties the results found to previous research that highlighted the impact of social media on female high school students’ STEM career outlook to conclude that there is a heavy emphasis on environmental stereotype themes and references to male students having more inherent talent suited to STEM than that of female students in Zhihu responses.