Students’ Aspirations about STEM Disciplines: A Comparative Study of Gender Segregation in Higher Education among Undergraduates in China and in the UK

Abstract

 This study draws comparisons between the characteristics and extent of gender segregation among undergraduate students reading in STEM disciplines in China, and that among their counterparts in the UK. This study analyses the perceptions of these two groups of undergraduates concerning the gender gap in STEM higher education, and their STEM career aspirations. A number of factors which could significantly influence gender segregation in this context are taken into consideration. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews with the two groups of respondents from each country. A total of two hundred questionnaires were distributed at the research sites in each country. Respondents were asked to detail the reasons behind their chosen field of study, the ratio of men to women in their field of study, and their views on their STEM career ambitions. Based on the results of interviews and questionnaires in both countries, it is found that gender stereotypes appear to be relatively less prevalent in STEM disciplines with equal gender representation, and that adjusting the ratio of male to female students might lead to a significant reduction in the degree of gender segregation. In addressing gender segregation among STEM university student cohorts, this study prescribes a number of improvements in social and curricular aspects in the university education environment.