Gender gap in STEM pathways: the role of secondary curricula in a highly differentiated school system—the case of Chile

dc.catalogadorjca
dc.contributor.authorSevilla, María Paola
dc.contributor.authorLuengo-Aravena, Daniela
dc.contributor.authorFarías, Mauricio
dc.date.accessioned2023-10-25T16:20:42Z
dc.date.available2023-10-25T16:20:42Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.date.updated2023-10-01T00:03:14Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract: Background: STEM fields are instrumental in increasing the technological and innovative capacity of the economy. As women are underrepresented in the STEM workforce, diverse strategies have been implemented to boost their preparedness and interest in these fields, including early exposure to academic and vocational STEM courses. Using the case of Chile’s highly differentiated school system, this paper examines the role of secondary curricula on students’ enrollment and persistence in STEM programs offered by vocational postsecondary institutions and universities. In doing so, we seek to identify whether exposure to STEM courses within the academic or vocational tracks translates into fewer gender differences in STEM higher education. Results: Our results reveal that upper-secondary tracks connected to STEM courses are positively associated with enrollment in STEM higher education and, to some degree, persistence. More specifically, exposure to STEM courses in the academic track is the most effective path to boost chances of enrolling in STEM university programs but has no connection to later persistence. In contrast, applied STEM courses within the vocational tracks perform better in the case of STEM programs in postsecondary vocational institutions both in enrollment and persistence. However, this STEM pipeline significantly amplifies gender gaps as males benefit more than women from early exposure to applied STEM courses. We also found that other indirect routes, such as enrolling in STEM university programs from the vocational track with applied STEM courses, boost female participation in these programs, helping reduce gender gaps. Conclusions: While secondary STEM courses attract more female students to STEM higher education, they alone are insufficient to achieve gender equality in STEM fields as gender gaps widen in the more effective routes. In highly differentiated school systems, policymakers and high school leaders should offer increased support to women interested in STEM studies and careers across all secondary tracks to boost female participation in STEM fields. At the same time, all high school students should be able to select both academic and applied STEM courses as a part of their non-mandatory curriculum.
dc.fechaingreso.objetodigital2023-10-01
dc.fuente.origenBiomed Central
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of STEM Education. 2023 Sep 25;10(1):58
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00450-7
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/75178
dc.information.autorucFacultad de Educación;Sevilla, María Paola;S/I;1285288
dc.issue.numero10
dc.language.isoen
dc.nota.accesoContenido completo
dc.pagina.final16
dc.pagina.inicio1
dc.revistaInternational Journal of STEM Education
dc.rightsacceso abierto
dc.subjectVocational education
dc.subjectHigher education
dc.subjectSTEM pipeline
dc.subjectGender differences
dc.subject.ddc370
dc.subject.deweyEducaciónes_ES
dc.subject.ods04 Quality education
dc.subject.ods05 Gender equality
dc.subject.odspa04 Educación de calidad
dc.subject.odspa05 Igualdad de género
dc.titleGender gap in STEM pathways: the role of secondary curricula in a highly differentiated school system—the case of Chile
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen58
sipa.codpersvinculados1285288
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